Geum ‘Banana Daiquiri’

Geum 'Banana Daiquiri' (Geum 'Banana Daiquiri') is a compact clumping perennial for the front of a cool climate border. It builds a neat mound about 40cm tall and 40cm wide, then throws up wiry stems of semi double flowers in a gentle banana yellow from spring into summer. It is frost hardy and it copes with ground that stays damp.

Why you'll love it

• A yellow that sits well with anything. The soft cream yellow is easier to place than a hot gold, so it lifts blue, white and burgundy planting instead of shouting over it.
• Genuinely frost hardy. Cool temperate gardens grow it without protection, unlike most perennials of this size.
• Happy in damp ground. It is wet feet tolerant, so a bed that holds water after rain suits it where a lavender would sulk.
• Small enough for a pot. At 40cm across it fits a 300mm container and flowers at eye level on a patio table.
• Bee and butterfly friendly. The semi double flowers stay open enough for bees to work, unlike heavily doubled perennials that lock pollinators out.

Where it works best

Borders and edging. Plant 30cm apart for a continuous band of colour along a path. Three plants in a triangle read better than a single specimen at this scale.

Pots and containers. One plant per 300mm pot, or three in a 500mm bowl. A container also lets you shift it out of afternoon sun in a hot spell.

Rockeries and small gardens. The tidy mound and long flowering season earn their keep where every plant has to do a job.

Growing Geum 'Banana Daiquiri' in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun in cool temperate gardens, morning sun with afternoon shade in warm temperate and Mediterranean ones. Be clear about the limit: it dislikes hot humid summers, so subtropical and tropical gardens are not the place for it.

Soil. Moisture retentive ground enriched with compost is what it wants. Wet soil is tolerated, though it still prefers not to sit in a puddle for weeks. Mulch 50mm deep to keep the roots cool.

Water and feed. Keep the soil evenly moist through the first summer and never let a potted plant dry right out. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring, plus a monthly liquid feed while it flowers, keeps buds coming.

Pruning. Deadhead spent stems at the base to bring on the next round of buds. The clump dies back in a cold winter and reshoots in spring, and dividing every three years keeps it vigorous.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in tube stock. Each tube holds a young rooted plant with a rosette of leaves, small in the hand and rarely in flower on arrival. A spring planted tube usually flowers in its first season.

If it arrives during winter dormancy the top growth may look sparse, which is normal for a herbaceous perennial and not a fault. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, under our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read about perennials for a cottage garden.
• Browse more bee and butterfly plants.
• See what else suits cool climate gardens.
• Find companions in our plants for pots selection.

Common questions

Will it grow in Brisbane or the tropics?

Not reliably. It is built for cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and humid subtropical summers rot it at the crown. In a warm garden, try it in a pot with afternoon shade.

How far apart should I plant it?

Thirty centimetres apart for a solid band of colour. At that spacing the mounds touch by the end of the first season without crowding into a shapeless mass.

How long does it flower for?

From spring into summer, and longer if you deadhead. Cutting spent stems back to the base rather than snipping off the flower heads is what keeps new buds coming.

Does it die back in winter?

In a cold garden, yes. The foliage retreats over winter and the clump reshoots from the crown in spring, so resist the urge to dig it out.