88. GERANIUM ‘ROZANNE’—PLANT OF THE CENTENARY

In 2013, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) announced its Plant of the Centenary—the best plant introduced at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in the United Kingdom in the last hundred years (1913–2013). They chose geranium ‘Rozanne’ as the best overall plant. If you see this plant in bloom, you will know why they chose it. ‘Rozanne’ geranium is a hardy perennial that requires little attention and is covered with beautiful, violet-blue flowers from June to October. Midsummer heat does not deter the flowers and the plants have mounds of deeply cut, green foliage that spread out. The foliage turns red in fall. Best of all, the blue color of the flowers deepens as the weather gets cooler.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ is a sturdy perennial that is covered with beautiful, violet-blue flowers growing atop spreading, deeply cut, green foliage. It pairs beautifully with the flower plumes of dwarf fountain grass, shown here. Easy to grow. It reaches a height of 18 to 20 inches. It was named 2008 Perennial Plant of the Year by the PPA. Zones 5–8.

The story of this remarkable plant began in Donald and Rozanne Waterer’s garden in England in 1989. They were keen gardeners and had 25 to 30 different varieties of hardy geraniums planted in the garden. One day Rozanne noticed a plant that was different from the others. It was a strong grower, with large leaves and beautiful blue flowers. The next year this plant returned and flowered nonstop from June until November! Guess what they named it.

You can plant geranium ‘Rozanne’ in a cottage or rock garden. It makes a wonderful underplanting for roses. I find the purple flowers contrast beautifully with red or pink shrub roses. ‘Rozanne’ is also a lovely complement to the fluffy, buff-colored plumes of dwarf fountain grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Hameln’) in summer. Other flowering perennials that are good companions to geranium ‘Rozanne’ include lilies, veronica, and Shasta daisies, among many others.

The profuse light purple blooms of geranium ‘Rozanne’ share a bed with pink ‘Profusion’ zinnias, an annual flower. A great combination.

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ can be planted above rocks and walls to great effect, spilling over them with abandon. ‘Rozanne’ is a perennial geranium that grows in full sun or partial shade (shade is preferred in southern regions of the United States). It likes good drainage, adequate water, and does not seem to be affected by insects or diseases. It is not eaten by rabbits. Not liked by deer.

‘Yellow Meringue’ false indigo (Baptisia ‘Lemon Meringue’) has lemon-yellow flowers on striking dark charcoal-colored stems. It has compact, well-branched foliage and grows 3 feet high and wide. The foliage is bluish-green and has a clover-like appearance. Baptisia does not transplant well and is long lived. It is deer resistant and combines well with bluestar (Amsonia hubrichtii) and ornamental native grasses. Zones 4–9.

False indigo ‘Cherries Jubilee’ (Baptisia ‘Cherries Jubilee’) is a hybrid that is part of the Decadence series of baptisia. It has a shorter, more compact habit than the species. The deep maroon flower buds are held on strong stems above blue-green foliage, followed by masses of bicolor maroon and yellow flowers on upright branches in late spring to early summer. ‘Cherries Jubilee’ is stunning when combined with the soft, yellow flowers of baptisia ‘Carolina Moonlight’ and blue flowers of baptisia ‘Purple Smoke,’ as shown here. This is at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden. Hardy in zones 4–9.