I have to confess that I was never a big fan of geums until I came across ‘Totally Tangerine’ growing in a friend’s garden. That year I visited her a few times during the spring and summer and each time I went I was more and more impressed by it: it was always in flower, upright, taller than most (80-90 cms), healthy, and just glowed!
This beautiful orange cultivar is sterile, which means that it won’t self-seed, and it’s also why it has such a long flowering season, from May until September. Flowers are abundant but do remember to remove any stems that have stopped producing them, don’t just take off the deadhead itself. It does best in full sun and is tolerant of a wide range of soils. The choices of plant combinations are endless but the bronzy burgundy foliage of Penstemon ‘Dark Towers’ and likewise of Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ go particularly well, as do medium sized grasses. Throw in a couple of Amsonia ‘Blue Ice’ and you’re sorted!
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ is protected by Plant Breeders Rights (PBR), which means that the breeder has control over its propagation and sale over a specified number of years.
NB Louise has published a beautifully produced book of her plant profiles – A Plant for Each Week of the Year. It costs £9.99 and is for sale in our online shop here.
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8 replies on “Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ PBR”
You had me smiling all the way through this post. A great critique on Chelsea.
Aah thanks Linda, that’s really all we aim to do, to share our love of gardening and bring a bit of happiness to like-minded people like you. We’re so lucky to have such a lovely hobby arent we ! Laura ?
I too never really appreciated Geum’s but having seen so many at The Malvern show( didn’t make Chelsea I live in Fife!) and the Totally Tangerine is spectacular! Can I buy one from the breeder!!?
I’m sorry Christine, I should have explained this more fully. PBR works like a patent. What happens is that any nursery/garden centre etc who sells this plant will, on each sale, pay a small percentage to the breeder. This is really to ensure that the years spent trying to breed these cultivars give some sort of financial reward to the person who’s done all the work! So you will easily be able to buy ‘Totally Tangerine ‘in many nurseries. You can also, as Anna reminded me below, divide it for your own use … just don’t sell the divisions!
Happy gardening – Louise!
I love waking up Sunday morning (Olympic Peninsula – Washington State, Puget Sound area) to read your newsletter. Here, it is still rainy and chilly, but photos of my past gardens remind me of gorgeous peonies this time of year – a favorite of mine. I am one of three sisters, and I have three adult daughters. They too love to garden as much as I did, and to a limited degree, still do. Your gardening tips and words about your favorites are wonderful! Thank you. Jere
Hello Jere, I can’t tell you how much your message meant to us – to think we have people living so far away, on a different continent in fact, who enjoy reading our ramblings. I know that social media has its dark side but we have only found friendship and shared interests through its ability to connect us with people like you! The peonies were amazing at Chelsea, I’m not surprised they’re one of your favourites, and I hope your three daughters have inherited your good taste.
Best wishes Laura
I have the lovely geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ and, although it is sterile, you can divide it very successfully. I now have 4 little plants.
That’s right Anna, division is always very successful and thank you for pointing that out!
Louise