Geranium psilostemon (Armenian Cranesbill)

One of the largest hardy species, award-winning Geranium psilostemon (Armenian Cranesbill) is quite eye-catching with its large magenta cup-shaped flowers, up to 1.5 in. wide (4 cm), with black centers and dark veining, rising atop broad, exotic fan-shaped leaves that turn red in fall. Putting on a great show from late spring to late summer, this hardy Geranium is reliable, easy to grow, and provides long-lasting color for any garden. Particularly attractive with pink roses or peonies or with silver foliage plants such as Artemisia or Stachys.

• Clump-forming, this deciduous perennial reaches 3-4 ft. in height and spread (90-120 cm) and requires very little maintenance!
• Won the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society (1993)
• Performs best in full sun or part shade, in moderately fertile, well-drained soils. Full shade is tolerated. This plant is not fussy about soils provided they are well-drained. Staking may be required if grown by itself. A good alternative would be to combine this Geranium with roses, peonies or other shrubs to provide support. Attractive to butterflies!
• A perfect border plant, it is a spectacular addition to beds, borders, banks and slopes, groundcover, cottage gardens, city gardens, underplanting roses and shrubs. Great in containers too!
• Armenian Cranesbill is generally not subject to serious pest or disease issues. Watch for vine weevil, sawflies, slugs and snails and powdery mildew
• Remove flowered stems and old leaves to encourage the production of fresh leaves and flowers. Propagate by division in spring or propagate by basal cuttings in early to mid-spring. Self-seeds sparingly.
• Geranium psilostemon is the prolific parent of many popular hybrids including:
  Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ – treasured for its long season of interest beginning with golden spring leaves and extending well into fall with rich magenta, black veined flowers.
  Geranium ‘Anne Thomson’ – resemble ‘Ann Folkard’ but has a rather more compact form.
  Geranium ‘Bressingham Flair’ – elegant mounds of deeply cut, broad leaves covered by black-eyed lilac-pink flowers.
  Geranium ‘Patricia’ – one of the longest-blooming of the hardy geraniums with striking, black-centered magenta flowers from late spring until late summer.