Geranium clarkei Kashmir White

The perennial Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White', also known as cranesbill 'Kashmir White', is a creeping perennial with deeply lobed leaves. Cup-shaped flowers, in summer and then in September, are white and veined with pale pink. This plant has very finely cut, semi-evergreen foliage.  This is a fast-growing plant, that forms a beautiful groundcover, suitable for all exposures, in moist but well-drained soil.

Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. This rhizomatous perennial has a spreading habit. The type species G.clarkei Yeo is native to the western Himalayas, in India, where it grows in mountain meadows of Kashmir. This spreading, creeping, rounded clump, reaches a height of 35 cm (14in), with a spread of 50 cm (20in). It has a fast growth rate. The flowering, which is melliferous and produces nectar, lasts all summer, from June to September, with a break during the hottest days of July-August. The blooms are a compound cyme of round and open flowers which are white, veined with light pink. The flowers have a translucent texture reminiscent of crepe paper and measure 4 cm (2in) in diameter. The fruits are long and slender, and burst open by projecting the seeds further away. This geranium has deciduous to semi-evergreen foliage, composed of leaves divided into seven lobes.  Leaves are medium green, measuring 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6in) in length, with each lobe deeply cut into narrow and pointed segments. It forms a non-invasive groundcover.

Geranium clarkei 'Kashmir White' is ideal for borders, at the front of plant or shrub beds. Perennial geraniums offer a good solution to prevent the spread of weeds and invasive plants, and are particularly useful at the base of roses. Starting from the year following planting, with one plant every 60 cm (24in), the entire space between and under the roses will be covered with flowers and foliage, without hindering the growth and flowers of the roses.