Perfect Perennial: Geranium 'Rozanne'

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ might well be a perfect perennial. When you hear its name, don’t think of the zonal geraniums which have unbending upright stems and poufy flowers in red, white, pink, or coral. Surely, those will never go out of style in patio containers, Memorial Day baskets, and other summertime displays. But think instead of a wildflower-like mound of bending stems, wispy to the point of being almost too thin to see from a distance. These stems give the effect of a cloud, with simple lavender-blue blooms all over, adding to the cloud effect. Now that, the second image… that is Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

Hardy Geranium, Perennial Geranium, Cranesbill: These names will direct you to these plants which gardeners find so pleasing. I myself got acquainted with the Cranesbills—Geranium ‘Rozanne’ in particular—when I purchased a handful of nondescript rhizomes. I dug the rhizomes into the ground with somewhat low expectations. To my surprise, the underground powerhouses opened up into plants that have become a mainstay in my gardens. Starting with blue-flowering ‘Rozanne’, I added other varieties. To me, these plants are as close to perfection as plants can be.

Blue Flowers

While I describe the flowers of Geranium ‘Rozanne’ as being blue, what is more impressive to me is their ability to catch the light. Although I know this is not possible at all times, it seems as though they are forever backlit, with the back-lighting enabling their thin petals to glow. This “glow” gives the blue blooms a remarkable depth of color, sometimes edging toward purple, and other times, looking sky blue and bright.

Returning Year After Year

I remember how impressed I was with the first year’s growth of Geranium ‘Rozanne’ in my gardens. When cold weather took over, I had high hopes of seeing ‘Rozanne’ in the upcoming spring. Still, I wasn’t sure my plants would handle the stresses of winter.

Year 2 arrived, and the spring sight of the patches where 'Rozanne' had grown was at first disappointing. Then… there “she” was… Geranium ‘Rozanne’, coming back slowly in early spring and then truly taking off to become impressive mounds. Year 2 produced larger clouds of lavender-blue beauty. Not only had my plants handled the stresses of winter, but they had stored up enough energy to be ready to thrive. This is when I became truly convinced that Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and the Hardy Geraniums in general are perfect perennials.

So Many to Choose From…

So, what are the types of Hardy Geraniums you might consider? Well, here is what I have in my gardens:

• Geranium ‘Rozanne’—perennial in zones 5-8, lavender-blue flowers, large single flowers, blooms reliably all summer, mounding foliage that turns ruddy in fall
• ‘Johnson’s Blue’—perennial in zones 4-8, periwinkle blue flowers, slightly smaller flowers than those of Geranium ‘Rozanne’, blooms heavily in early summer but not throughout the summer, mounding foliage turns red in fall
• ‘Biokovo’—perennial in zones 4-8, pink-kissed pale blooms, smaller flowers, blooms all summer, low-growing foliage gets blushed with red when the temperature drops, foliage provides autumn interest
• ‘Max Frei’—compact perennial in zones 3-8, magenta flowers appearing in smaller number than those of other varieties, blooms in late spring, foliage turns rich red in autumn and contributes to its common name of Bloody Cranesbill

Out of this list—a list that only scratches the surface of the Hardy Geraniums that are available—my favorites are Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and ‘Johnson’s Blue’, due to their flower color. And of these, with its longer-spanning flowering time, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is my “go-to”. 

Hardy Geranium (Not Much) Care

Now, if you purchase Hardy Geraniums, I’d love for you to agree that they are perfect plants. So, are there any tips for growing them? Well, if you plant Hardy Geraniums and find that they fail to bloom as expected, you may need to relocate them to a sunnier location. They can handle some shade, but their best flowering is achieved in full sun.

If sun isn’t the issue, then ask yourself if you are perhaps treating your plants too well. Hardy Geraniums want to be wild beauties. Don’t fertilize them. Water them, let them dry out every once in a while, and hold back on the pampering. Sure, you’ll want to trim their spindly stems when all flowers have gone by and the wispy stem “clouds” become unruly. And divide your plants once they get very mature. But overall, Hardy Geraniums such as Geranium ‘Rozanne’ are likely to do better and bloom more with simple care. Perfect, right?

Well, all this talk of perfection makes me think of the many things I need to work on. My Lilies of the Valley have been overtaken by garlic mustard that I want to dig out before it goes to seed and spreads elsewhere in my yard. My Holly bushes are covered in black sooty mold, and I need to address that. But my emerging (we’re way past Year 3 now… too many years to count) Hardy Geraniums… well, they’re giving me no worries this spring, or any time that I can recall. They are… perfect perennials.