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Geranium macrorrhizum, or big root geranium, is one of my all-time favorite perennials for its ease of cultivation, attractive foliage, pretty summer blooms, and incredible vigor. It’s perfect at the front of a perennial or shrub bed, along a pathway, or as a groundcover under shrubs. Big root geranium spreads and forms a dense carpet of foliage, but it’s not so aggressive that it becomes invasive. In this article you’ll learn all about planting, growing, and caring for this stunning plant.
Get to know Geranium macrorrhizum
Also called big root cranesbill, Geranium macrorrhizum is a perennial plant hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8. In my garden it’s a botanical wonder, tolerant of sun or shade, and flowering from late spring through early summer. The pretty magenta pink flowers are held 4 to 6 inches above the foliage and typically repeat on and off through the summer months. The plants grow a foot tall and offer garden interest from early spring though late fall. In fact the leaves turn an attractive deep burgundy-red in autumn. They’re also fragrant when rubbed or crushed with a pleasing minty scent. It’s this fragrance that helps make big root geranium both deer and rabbit resistant.
Geranium macrorrhizum spreads via thick rhizomes, horizontal underground stems, and forms dense clumps in the garden. It’s my go-to weed resistant ground cover and is also perfect for covering an awkward slope.
Where to grow Geranium macrorrhizum
This perennial is popular in cottage gardens, perennial borders, and as solution for challenging spots like slopes and dry shade. It’s not very fussy about its growing conditions and
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