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Last Updated: Jul 10, 2008 - 12:32:05 PM |
Met ‘Rozanne’ yet? Though very much looking forward to do so, I haven’t either; but, in addition to giving me a copy of her profile, my good friends at the Boulevard Flowers in Colonial Heights have assured me that the wait to meet her will soon be over.
‘Rozanne,’ in case I got everyone all excited, is the hardy geranium that has been named the 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year.
Each year, as widely known, The Perennial Plant Association selects a perennial that, based on its merits, gets to be the winner of the title; so trusting is the choice that, as soon as the plants become available, I make it a point to procure the one chosen, to add on to my collection of winners of the previous years.
Not to be confused with the annual geranium, Pelargonium sp., a staple of our summer gardens, the perennial geranium, commonly known as cranesbill, are clump-forming compact plants, grown for their lovely flowers as well as interesting foliage; and according to the fact-sheet I have been given, ‘Rozanne,’ that is a result of a cross between Geranium himalayense and Geranium wallichianum ‘Buxton’s Variety,’ grows barely to about 20 inches in height with almost a similar spread, thus making it perfect as a ground cover, in front of a border, and in containers or window boxes.
From late spring onwards, accompanied by lovely foliage, this long-season bloomer bears abundant violet-blue, cup-shaped flowers that are highlighted with contrasting white centers and purple veins; the plants prefer well-drained soil and full sun, but some shade at locations where the afternoon sun tends to be hot. Free from diseases and pests and hardy zones 5-8, ‘Rozanne’ is very heat-tolerant and considered to be among the drought-tolerant perennial geraniums. Loaded with such features, it is not a surprise that it got chosen to be the 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year. Incidentally, more information about the description and culture of this award winner can be obtained by logging on at www.perennialplant.org.
Now, I can hardly wait to lay my hands on a specimen of this geranium, watch it grow and eventually bloom; by coincidence, even though we have a fair number of perennials in our garden, for one reason or the other, I never got around to growing any of the hardy geraniums. Seems like ‘Rozanne’ is the one for us!
Gita’s Tip of the Month: Thinking of getting a spring-flowering tree or a shrub? Then now is a good time while they are in bloom, as the actual color of the flowers can be seen.
gitaagrawal@juno.com
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