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geum ID question

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
I fight a constant battle with geum urbanum.  Last year I bought some tame geums. Now I have an ID problem!
I've noticed a difference in the leaf shape between a particular plant that I know to be the weed version and one that I'm sure that I planted.  Is leaf shape safe way to ID the cultivated plants, or do they vary?
In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Juvenile leaves can differ from mature ones ; if you know for definite which are the G.urbanum (they are normally constantly similar) plants , get rid of them .
    It's fine in a 'woodland' scenario , but definitely not a nice border perennial .
    Cultivated species and hybrids normally have larger leaves with the exception of G.coccineum 'Koi' and similar , with rounder and smaller foliage .
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Oh dear, I hoped  the cultivated ones  might have all had the long leaves.
    Anyway, I'll get rid of the seedling types,and the ones in unlikely places,and hope for the best. Thank you Paul.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    I apologise if my above post was confusing ; (I'm still baffled after reading it again)!!!
    The leaves of Geum urbanum are always the same either in sun or shade .
    Obviously you'll know its dreaded foliage ; simply remove all that resemble it as a safeguard .
    Had the pleasure of uprooting loads of them from a steep muddy slope the other day in the drizzle ; some people garden for pleasure ; it is my full-time occupation nowadays , though I sometimes ask myself "why"??
    Good luck with its removal , it can be a real pest .
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    My apologies if my post was confusing ,(I'm still baffled after reading it again)!!!!
    Geum urbanum foliage is always the same either in sun or shade ; simply extract any seedlings that resemble it (at risk of a few cultivars maybe) .
     
    I had the dubious pleasure of removing many of them from a muddy and steep slope the other day with cold winds and drizzle as an added accompaniment .
    People garden for pleasure , I do it for a living in partnership with another , though on days like that I often ask myself "why"??
    Good luck with its removal , and smile with satisfaction when discarding it !

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Duuh..........thought I'd lost the first post .
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Paul B3
    I've always had a battle with GU but I bought some cultivated geums and cannot remember exactly where I put them.
    I was concerned that I might be hoiking out the goodies -plants but self-seeders  mainly, and wondered if there was a foolproof way of identifying the cultivars :/ .
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    B3
    The only sure way is to wait until they flower ;Geums are coming 'into their own' right now !
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I thought as much - but hoped!
    Thanks Paul
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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