by Leslie Cox; Wednesday, February 4, 2015
I have selected this hardy geranium as my topic for Plant of the Week for three reasons.
- I love this plant in my garden and…
- It is largely pest- and disease-free and…
- It just happens to be the Perennial Plant Association’s selection for Perennial Plant of the Year in 2015.
Definitely makes this particular plant worth celebrating.
Native to the Biokovo Mountains in Croatia which run along the Dalmatian coast of the Adriatic Sea, Geranium x cantabrigiense is one of those natural crossings that often occur in nature all on their own. In this case, it is a hybrid of Geranium macrorrhizum and Geranium dalmaticum.
As one of the parents is G. macrorrhizum, the slightly hairy leaves on ‘Biokovo’ are gently scented. Some claim the scent is lemony, some say apple-like, others just say nicely fragrant. To my sense of smell…and smell is highly particular to each and every one of us…‘Biokovo’ leaves smell somewhat like camphor when brushed against or crushed. Some find the aroma pleasant…others not so much. John is one. He is not particularly fond of the fragrance. Me, I quite like it.
Regardless, the leaves, and the oils they contain, have medicinal value in treating a variety of ailments such as skin problems, menopause symptoms, dysentery, insomnia, toothaches…to name but a few. The leaves also make an effective insect repellent.
Low-growing, ‘Biokovo’ forms a fairly dense mat that makes an effective weed suppressor. Something every gardener yearns for…someone, or something, to help control weeds.
The flowers are white tinged with pink…not masses of them and rather small in size…but still pretty. The plant is evergreen so it provides some winter colour in an otherwise barren herbaceous border. And its winter foliage colour is definitely flamboyant in its shades of yellow, oranges and reds.
Did I happen to mention ‘Biokovo’ is like all the other hardy geraniums…drought tolerant and easy care?
Sure makes this plant an excellent choice for Perennial Plant of the Year for 2015!
For more information on this plant, check out “Plants We Grow” under the “In the Garden” menu button. Or take the quick link here.
