Geum quellyon

‘Fireball’

BALL OF FIRE GEUM

Geum quellyon ‘Fireball’
BALL OF FIRE GEUM

Geum quellyon ‘Ball of Fire’ flares with fully double fire engine red blooms, like mini roses.

Fire red double blooms

This blazing beauty of a plant bears branching sprays of fire-engine red, fully double flowers of pretty formation.

Abundant bloomer

It is an abundant bloomer, producing many flowers heads from each plant.
Blooms are held in arching sprays, on long, strong, clean stems approx. 60cm high.
(Stems also have an attractive red-purple blush).
So the blooms float above the flat rosette of neat leaves in a graceful fountain shape.

Long blooming

Geum quellyon ‘Ball of Fire’ is very showy and eye-catching.
With continuous, abundant blooms over a long period through spring and summer.

Makes a lovely cut flower for floristry

Stems of flower sprays are easy to harvest and arrange in floristry, as the stems are clean and strong.
They can be cut right back at the base for excellent stem length (the plants will love it too and get right back on the job of making more blooms)
Cut flowers have have a good vase life of 7-10 days.

Fast & easy growing

Geum quellyon ‘Ball of Fire’ is a hardy evergreen perennial plant.

Long lived decorative rosette of evergreen foliage

That will be with you in the garden for many many years.

Quick from seed to flower

‘Ball of Fire’ quickly matures to flowering size plants from sowing the seed, and they are easy to grow and maintain.

Plant at the front to border a bed, under taller plants, or in a pot

The neat, pretty, low rosette of foliage, and abundant colour, make Geum quellyon ‘Ball of Fire’ ideal for a front edge, or an underplanting for roses and shrubs, or in a feature pot.

Enjoys part shade or full sun with mulch

So plant in part shade positions, to full sun if it is well mulched or a cooler district.
It does appreciate some shade for part of the day in hot areas or areas with hot, humid summers.

Frost hardy, easy to grow & low maintenance

You will find it frost hardy, easy to grow & low maintenance.
Geum quellyon ‘Ball of Fire’ can withstand frost down to at least -20°C
There is little to do over the year other than average watering and average garden fertilizing.

Magnet for pollinators

Your bees, butterflies and other useful flying friends – will purr with delight on spotting a spray of Geum quellyon ‘Ball of Fire’ blooms waving at them.

Resistant to rabbits & deer

While few plants are totally resistant to a starving rabbit or deer – at least Geum is not high on their salad menu.
And Geum plants are rarely if ever troubled by other pests or diseases.

Perfect size for garden or pots

Evergreen perennial rosette, sitting flat against the ground, approx. 45cm. diameter.
Blooming in showy branching sprays of large flowers, on stems 60-75cm. high.

SEED SOWING ADVICE: QUICK & EASY

Sow any time indoors in a punnet when suitable temperatures can be provided (18-25°C).
OR
Scatter directly in garden in autumn or spring.

Sow indoors for quick & early plants: First sow the seeds on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then gently gently pat the seeds onto the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
Now only very lightly cover the seeds of finely sieved mix.
But do not bury too deeply, as these seeds need light to germinate.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath, and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface from below.

Then place the moist punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in any direct sunlight as this will dry the seeds out).

Temperatures of 18-25°C approx. are best for rapid and optimum germination.
You can use a heat mat to maintain consistent temperature if you have one.
But bottom heat is not essential as these seeds are willing and rapid germinators.

Continue to keep the punnet consistently moist by misting from a spray water bottle as required.
Covering the punnet with a clear lid or plastic bag between mistings will also help to maitain necessary consistent moisture.

Seedlings begin to emerge in approx. 7-21 days.

However if they are shy to sprout – then a period of chilling, as a “pretend winter” will enhance the germination.

So if necessary thoroughly moisten the punnet.
Then wrap in cling wrap or a plastic bag.
And place in the fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
This will mimic winter well and promote more rapid germination.

Seed Count: 30 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count and give a generous serve).

GROWING: Geum quellyon ‘Fireball’

– Height with flowers: 60-75cm. flower stems approx. above the flat rosette of  very pretty foliage.
– Width: 45cm. approx.
– Position:  Part Shade; Dappled Sun and Shade; or Morning Sun in hot or humid districts. Also Full Sun in cooler districts.
– Soil: A wide range of average garden soil is fine, providing they are not boggy.
Either acid or alkaline is acceptable. Because Geums are so very easy-going.

– Fragrance: Sadly none, but other charms make up for it.
– Frost: Very frost hardy in even severe frost areas.
– Growth: Evergreen perennial rosette.

– Bees & Birds: Bees and butterflies regard Geums as well stocked larders of pollen and nectar. Long and repeat blooming is a big help to our pollinator friends. Small seed eating birds like Finches love the fuzzy seed heads too.
– Care: Very easy low maintenance.
– Deer & Rabbit resistant: Downy, hairy foliage seems to keep Geums near the bottom the menu selection for rabbits and deer.

An interesting history

– Origin: The word Geum comes from ancient Greek “geuo”, which means” relish or flavour”.
We certainly know the ancient Romans used this plant as a flavouring for both food and drink.
But then they also ate Door Mice, so they are probably unreliable as culinary advisors!

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