Geranium monacense var. anglicum

The Perennial Geranium monacense var anglicum, rare in cultivation, is a very pretty plant that produces flowers in summer with strongly reflexed pink-purple petals and a small white centre surrounded by a blue-violet halo, on fresh green foliage that turns red in autumn. It is a spontaneous hybrid found in gardens, resulting from two fairly similar species, G. phaeum var. lividum and G. reflexum. It combines the qualities of its parents, tolerating dry and shady conditions.

The Geranium monacense, formerly called 'Monachum', a Latin name meaning Munich, belongs to the geranium family. It is a natural hybrid derived from Geranium phaeum (dusky cranesbill), which thrives in moist meadows and woodland edges, and Geranium reflexum (rock cranesbill), native to southern Europe, which grows in semi-shade on dry soil. The perennial Geranium monacense anglicum has an upright, somewhat loose tufted habit, reaching a height of 45 cm (18in) or more, with a minimum spread of 40 cm (16in), sometimes much more if the conditions are right. Its flowering occurs in summer, in June-July depending on the climate. The reflexed cup-shaped flowers measure 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter and are adorned with a bright hue, a fairly vivid pink-purple, with a beautiful bluish central halo surrounding a small white centre from which emerge a bundle of pink stamens with black anthers. The foliage is semi-evergreen, finely cut and dissected, fresh green sometimes tinged with purple, and then turning red in autumn.

The Perennial Geranium monacense var anglicum is ideal in shaded or semi-shaded areas, in slightly difficult places, dry in summer under bushes or trees. In semi-shade, it will cover the ground without being suffocating, along with Aster ageratoides, dead nettles, periwinkles, or woolly foxgloves, obscura or lutea. It can also be planted on top of a wall, in a semi-shaded rockery where it will lean, with the base in shade and the head in the sun, among aubrietas, violets or wood anemones. It likes to creep under low branches of bushes, not fearing their roots.