The common name is scarlet avens (a clue as to its flower colour) and it sometimes has ‘chiloense’ as part of its name referring to the island of Chiloe which is off the coast of Chile. It was introduced in 1921.  Geums, although they will not tolerate water-logged soil, are otherwise unfussy, hardy and long-flowering; deserving their AGM (award of garden merit). Look out for its twin ‘Lady Strathedon’ a yellow flowered form.

Cultivation: grow in any but very wet soil and cut back old flower stems as they finish. Divide in either spring or autumn or propagate by seed. Take care, however, because the young plants are almost identical to the wildflower form and are easily weeded out of a border.