Any plant that has been awarded ‘Perennial of the year’ has to be worth a look, and Geranium ‘Rozanne’ lives up to its reputation.
It has also been awarded plant of the decade as well as a few other acclamations, and it is readily available for sale in Australia.
The brilliant violet blue flowers might not be extremely large, however they do get to a good size up to 6cm across, and they do appear in profusion. Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is also blessed with a long flowering season and an easy care nature.
For us the flowers commence in late spring and continue through to early winter, in Sydney it will flower almost year round.
This is a hybrid between G. wallichianum and G. himalayense, as are a few others, however Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is better than most, if not all.
Landscaping Uses
Excellent at the front of the garden border as this is a low growing plant.Also useful for growing in containers. Mix it up with other plants of similar height to form a patchwork quilt of colour. Excellent for underplanting taller plants including roses, or plant it next to grey foliage plants to add some contrast.
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ Care
Mulch around ‘Geranium ‘Rozanne’ top maintain a cool moist root run. After planting, water regularly with a liquid seaweed fertiliser to help with root establishment. Water deeply through the first summer if soil begins to dry.
How To grow Geranium ‘Rozanne’
Position, Soil and Climate
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is adaptable, but flowers and performs best with reasonable soil and light . In deeper shade it tends to be more sprawling and does not flower as freely.
- Aspect: full sun to part shade; in hotter climates, some afternoon shade helps prevent stress in summer.
- Soil: average garden soil with good drainage; prefers moist, humus-rich conditions but will cope with poorer soils once
- Water: regular moisture through the first growing season, then occasional deep watering in dry spells.
- Hardiness: generally hardy in climates equivalent to USDA zones 5–8, tolerating winter cold and summer heat in these regions.
In heavier soils, improve drainage with compost or fine gravel before planting to help the crown stay healthy through wet periods.
Planting and Spacing
Plant Geranium ‘Rozanne’ in prepared soil where it has room to spread and form a dense mat of foliage.
- Spacing: 50–60 cm between plants to allow the clumps to meet and provide good groundcover.
- Planting depth: set the crown at the same level it was in the pot, firm gently, and water in well.
- Mulch: apply an organic mulch around, but not on top of, the crown to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
Container planting is also possible; choose a wide, shallow pot with free-draining potting mix and water more regularly.
Care, Pruning and Maintenance
Once established, ‘Rozanne’ is low maintenance, with most of the work focused on keeping the clump tidy and vigorous.p
- Feeding: a light application of balanced fertiliser or compost in spring helps promote strong growth and flowering.
- Watering: maintain even moisture through hot weather, especially in containers or sunny, free-draining sites.
- Pruning: shear back old or straggly growth in mid to late summer to about 7–10 cm to refresh foliage and encourage new flowers.
- Winter: in colder climates the top growth may die back; simply tidy up old stems and allow new shoots to emerge in spring.
Deadheading is not essential, as the flowers tend to self-clean, but removing spent stems can help keep plants looking neat in high-visibility areas.
Pests, Diseases and General Performance
Geranium ‘Rozanne’ has a reputation for being a tough, reliable garden plant with few serious pest or disease issues.j
- Pest resistance: The foliage is fragrant and often left by rabbits and deer.
- Diseases: with good drainage and reasonable airflow, it is generally free of major problems; avoid waterlogged sites to reduce any risk of root troubles.
- Heat and drought: shows good heat tolerance and some drought resilience once established, though performance is best with steady moisture.
Regularly checking plants and trimming back any damaged or congested growth will help maintain a dense, flower-covered mound through the main growing season.
- Position – Full sun to part shade
- Soil – Humus rich, moist but well drained.
- Height – To 50 cm
- Spread – To .70 cm
- Flower colour – Violet Blue with a white eye, petals lightly veined with a crimson streak.
- Flowering period – Early summer through to autumn. Flowering will be longer in a cool position.
- Foliage – Deep green, deeply lobbed.
- Growth rate is regarded as medium to fast. Pruning .
After the first flush of flowers, Geranium ‘Rozanne’ can be pruned back to promote a second flush of flowers later in the season. Prune back hard in spring as new growth commences. Propagation – Only by cuttings or division.
Where To Buy
www.planterspatch.com.au
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In Melbourne try –
WISHING WELL NURSERY – 03 9756 6107
Monbulk – Silvan Rd Monbulk.