Perennial of the Month-- December 2007 

(GE-um  cock-SIN-ee-um) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name: Werner Arends Avens

Family: Rose, Rosaceae

Height x width: 15-18in. (foliage 6in.) x 12in.

Growth rate/habit: moderate/ clumping

Foliage: trifoliate or more, with terminal lobe rounded and the largest

Flowers: deep orange, semi-double, 1-2in. wide, on stalks above leaves, often 4 weeks or more of bloom in late spring with repeat summer blooms

Hardiness: USDA zones 4-9 

Soil: well-drained

Light: full sun

Pests and problems: none significant

Landscape habit, uses: fronts of borders, rock gardens; combines well interplanted with spring bulbs or blue fescue, in front of globeflower, or behind summer annuals

Other interest: similar to more common species borisii, (and sometimes listed under, with some sources listing this cultivar as synonymous with this species, or a cultivar of, or coccineum synonymous with borisii; however the above nomenclature listed by the RHS in the Plant Finder) but with longer bloom period, often with repeat blooming; an older cultivar from Georg Arends (famous nurseryman and ornamental plant breeder, Ronsdorf, Germany, 1862-1952, noted mainly for Arendsii hybrids of astilbe); scarce cultivar, more seen in Europe and UK than in the US

Other culture: easy, low maintenance; de-leaf old and brown leaves early in season

Propagation: division, if needed (decrease in blooms), in spring every 3-5 years

Sources:  specialty retail perennial nurseries; Crownsvile nursery online, wholesale nurseries (with searches for local retailers) Monrovia and Terra Nova, latter introducing this to US in 2002