Perennial of the Year: Geranium ‘Rozanne’

Each year, the Perennial Plant Association picks a perennial plant that it feels has the outstanding qualities to be voted Perennial Plant of the Year. This year the award goes to Geranium ‘Rozanne’(see photo at left). I noticed that some sources list it as a zone 4 plant, and others as a zone 5. With the global warming, Northfield is on the border between both zones 4 and 5, depending on who’s zone map you are looking at. (I like the one put out by the National Arbor Day Foundation, because it uses the most recent data). I would recommend you start out with a trial plant to see how it performs over a couple of winters. If you don’t know your climate zone, go to our home page and enter your zip code on the Arbor Day box at the bottom of the page. One source I checked out called it the next best thing to an annual, because if it’s long blooming period. The description below is from the Perennial Plant Association.

The Perennial Plant Association has awarded the title of Perennial Plant of the Year® to Geranium ‘Rozanne’. Donald and Rozanne Waterer discovered this strong performing hardy geranium in their garden in Somerset, England in 1989. It has 2 ½ inch, iridescent violet-blue, saucer-shaped flowers with purple-violet veins and radiant white centers. Bloom time is from late spring to mid fall.

• Size - 20 to 24 inches tall and 24 to 28 inches wide
• Light - Best in full sun to partial shade, afternoon shade is advisable in hot climates
• Soil - Prefers moist, well-drained soil
• Uses - Geranium ‘Rozanne’ may be used as a dynamic ground cover or as an attractive specimen plant. It is a good companion plant to Shasta daisy, perennial salvia, speedwell, hostas, and short ornamental grasses. Rozanne’senergetic habit makes it a worthy tenant of patio containers, window boxes,and hanging baskets.
• Unique Qualities - The large violet-blue flowers with purple-violet veins and small white centers offer non-stop flowering through the growing season. It has one of the longest flowering periods of any of the hardy geraniums.