Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersens Variety

Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersen's Variety is an excellent variety of perennial rhizomatous Geranium, awarded in England for its many qualities. The plant has a compact and creeping growth capable of smothering weeds, often evergreen foliage in winter, and offers generous soft pink flowering in late spring. The cup-shaped flowers, larger than those of the type species, are borne in umbels, well above foliage that is very aromatic when brushed against. In autumn this foliage turns red and yellow, in tune with the most beautiful colours of the late season. It is a very hardy plant, well adapted to difficult conditions: it accepts all exposures and tolerates drought. These qualities make it one of the best ground covers, especially for dry shade.

Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersen's Variety belongs to the Geraniaceae family. The type species, Geranium macrorrhizum, is also know as bigroot cranesbill. It is an herbaceous perennial plant which grows in colonies in the undergrowth of southern Europe, at high altitudes. The 'Ingwersen's Variety' differs from the type species with its slightly larger growth and beautiful soft pink flowers with a deep pink base, particularly ornamental. The plant forms a dense mat with a low habit, reaching a height of 30-35 cm (12-14in) when in flower and a minimum width of 50 cm (20in). Through trailing, thick and fleshy rhizomes, it spreads quite rapidly and can eventually form a wide and very covering carpet. Flowering mainly occurs from late May to July, depending on the climate. The 5-petaled flowers measure about 2.5 cm (1in) in diameter and are arranged in corymbs carried on 35 cm (14in) stems, well above the foliage. The latter, more or less evergreen in winter, consists of rounded leaves deeply cut into 5 to 7 lobes of a fairly light green. Their surface, covered with glandular hairs loaded with essential oil, is slightly sticky to the touch. Their powerful, pungent and very persistent scent is somewhat reminiscent of rhubarb. They are adorned with beautiful autumnal colours of red, orange or yellow.

Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersen's Variety is an excellent perennial plant that every enthusiast should welcome into their garden due to its great ease of cultivation in all regions, and the invaluable services it provides in smothering weeds, both in shade and in full sun. In the undergrowth or in shade it can be associated with small periwinkles, bergenias, or dead nettles. In partial shade or at the edge of a sunny flowerbed, it can be paired with catmints, Teucrium chamaedrys or Lamb's ears, plants as robust as this bigroot cranesbill. A border of Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersen's Variety will form a very elegant festoon at the foot of an evergreen shrub hedge.