Geranium Rozanne

Perennial Plant of the Year 2008

Quick Facts

Color: Violet-blue Exposure: Part Shade/Sun
Height: 18-20" Spread: 36 "
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 8 AHS Heat Zones: 12 - 2
Habit: Mounded Bloom Time: Spring, Summer, Fall
Animal Resistance: Deer, Rabbit Uses: Containers, Front Border
Attributes: Attracts Butterflies

The Perennial Plant Association has named Geranium ‘Rozanne’ the Perennial Plant of the Year for 2008. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is the best, most garden-worthy hardy Geranium you can grow. Large 2½" saucer-shaped jewel toned flowers just never quit. Geranium Rozanne blooms with violet-blue, white-centered flowers profusely from late spring through November, or until hard frost. Unlike many Geraniums, 'Rozanne' has great heat tolerance. This is a vigorous hardy geranium, but is never invasive. As an added bonus, the mounded, slightly marbled, deep green foliage becomes reddish brown in fall for added interest.

Rozanne’s Origins

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ like many great garden plants have come about through the keen observations of attentive gardeners and Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is no exception. Donald and Rozanne Waterer collected seed from two geraniums growing as neighbors in their garden in Somerset, England. From the resultant seedlings, 'Rozanne' stood out as being exceptional, featuring stronger growth, larger flowers and leaves than their parent plants.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is a hybrid in the family Geraniaceae, the result of a cross between Geranium himalayense and Geranium wallichianum ‘Buxton’s Variety’. Members of this genus should not be confused with the common annual geranium of summer gardens, which are actually in the genus Pelargonium. Hardy geraniums or cranesbill geraniums get their common name from the resemblance of their seed-pod shape to that of a crane’s bill or beak. Blooms of Bressingham first introduced Geranium ‘Rozanne’ at the 2000 Chelsea Flower Show.

Garden Uses and Care

The 20” high Rozanne geranium mounds to a 24-28 inch spread. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ thrives in full sun to partial shade in moist, well-draining soil. This hardy geranium has exceptional heat tolerance and drought tolerance among the geraniums and is hardy in USDA gardening zones 5-8. To maintain peak bloom and foliage appearance simply shear back old foliage in late summer to 3 inches. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ has shown excellent disease, pest resistance and is deer and rabbit resistant as well!

For a stellar showing, plant Geranium ‘Rozanne’ in masses at the front of the border where it will bloom nonstop all season long. Combine Geranium ‘Rozanne’ with Leucanthemum ‘Snowcap’ or Coreopsis ‘Moonbeam’ for dynamic companion plant pairings. Rozanne’s energetic growth habit makes it a worthy tenant of patio containers, hanging baskets and window boxes.

Patent Information: USPP# 12175
Common Name: Crane's Bill, Cranesbill