Geum Two Tone Pearl - Avens

Geum 'Two Tone Pearl' (Censation Series) is a floriferous Dutch hybrid Avens with soft tones. Its semi-double flowers come in a pale yellow and cream, touched with purple at the base of the petals. The plant forms a modest clump of semi-evergreen bright green foliage and blooms for at least six weeks from mid-April. This hardy and robust perennial appreciates moist, well-drained, and fertile soil. It tolerates some shade.

Avens (Geum) are hardy herbaceous perennials from the Rosaceae family, native to temperate or colder regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. Crossed with each other, they have given rise to numerous hybrids, including Censation 'Two Tone Pearl', belonging to a series of varieties carefully selected in the Netherlands for their ornamental qualities. This compact and clump-forming variety measures about 30 to 35 cm high with an equal width. It forms a clump of upright basal leaves, which can persist in winter. They are quite deep but vibrant green, irregular, and finely velvety, measuring 10 cm long and wide. This Avens has cymes bearing several semi-double, cup-shaped flowers, on thin, loosely upright, branched stems above the foliage. The first ones to bloom, in April, measure 4 cm in diameter. Once flowering is well underway, the abundantly produced corollas are slightly smaller. The flowers are composed of pale yellow to cream, slightly translucent petals with a purple base. Like many long-flowering perennials, this Avens is not very long-lived, so it is a good idea to divide it every three years to keep it in the garden for a long time. This sterile variety does not produce seeds.

Avens Censation 'Two Tone Pearl' is a floriferous, modest-sized, but sturdy and rather easy-to-grow plant. It is accommodating and will appreciate being exposed to gentle sun, partial shade, or even not too dense shade. To fully appreciate it, plant it in borders or rockeries, making sure to give it space, so it is not too overwhelmed by larger plants. Its lovely colour will be beautiful with other Avens or spring perennials such as hardy geraniums, lady's mantle, salvias, and low grasses. In partial shade, it pairs well with delicate perennials like meadow rues or masterworts. Purple heucheras create a harmonious combination. It is also very pretty in bouquets.