Geum × heldreichii ‘Sigiswang’

Avens Rosaceae

A wonderfully compact and floriferous avens with a distinctly Alpine pedigree. ‘Sigiswang’ forms a neat mound of fresh green, attractively divided foliage, above which wiry stems carry bright orange flowers in late spring and early summer. The combination of compact habit, vivid colour and exceptional hardiness makes it a particularly useful little geum for the front of a border, gravel garden or naturalistic planting.

The cultivar has an unusually well-documented provenance. It was selected by German plantsman Karl Partsch (1922–2009) in the Allgäu region of Bavaria, and named after Sigiswang, a locality near Ofterschwang where the plant was found. It is generally treated as Geum × heldreichii ‘Sigiswang’, although the cultivar has appeared in horticulture under several different species names, including G. coccineum, which presumably accounts for the nomenclatural confusion surrounding the plant.

A tough perennial for a sunny or lightly shaded position, it prefers fertile, humus-rich soil that remains reasonably moist but never stagnant. Despite its modest stature, the flowers pack a considerable punch—and, being an Allgäu plant, it is hardly going to complain about a British winter.

Height: 25–30 cm
Spread: 25–30 cm
Flowering: May–June
Hardiness: H7, below –20°C
Growing conditions: Moist but well-drained, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade; avoid prolonged summer drought.
Origin: Selected by Karl Partsch, Allgäu, Bavaria, Germany; named for the locality of Sigiswang.