Geranium Rozanne, the #1 Geranium for American Gardens

by Stephanie Cohen

A few years ago, a Blooms of Bressingham hardy geranium was introduced to American gardeners. This was the same year that the summer held one of the worst droughts in Pennsylvania. At the time I was growing over 20 geraniums. By the end of the summer only four had lived to tell the tale. The best one was Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

Let’s look at its merits. It has wonderfully large violet-blue flowers with showy white eyes. Deep green, dissected foliage makes a good contrast for the flowers. The habit is mounding and spreading. It is only 18 to 20 inches tall and the plants look superb in the front of borders as well as containers. In late spring you definitely have a “wow” factor. Now here’s the big surprise, it has one of the longest bloom times of any hardy geranium. It can still be strutting its flower show in midfall. Many times in my cold USDA Hardiness Zone 6 garden it finished flowering in November. It grows in good garden loam. In my garden where the soil is moisture retentive it is in full sun. In gardens with average soil and hot summers afternoon shade is advisable. It is hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8.

Three years ago sitting down to dinner with Dr. Allan Armitage, the perennial guru, I boasted of ‘Rozanne’s’ superiority. He looked incredulous. The next day he received some samples from Blooms of Bressingham for the University of Georgia trial gardens. The following year I was sitting in the audience at a conference. Lo’ and behold! Dr. Armitage felt it was one of the most outstanding geraniums he had ever seen, possibly number 1. I was as pleased as could be.

Every chance I get, no matter where I speak or go, I tout its superiority. A couple years ago I happened to visit the Hampton Court Flower Show in England. I drifted into the perennial area. There was a lovely display of, you guessed it, ‘Rozanne’. Trying to show my knowledge to the owner of the display I casually remarked, “This is the best hardy geranium for American gardens”. He replied, “I would think so because it is the best geranium being sold in the United Kingdom.” There we have a unanimous decision on this plant. It is easier to agree on great plants than on any other topic. I’m sure it will stay a favorite for many years to come.

Stephanie Cohen is currently director of the landscape arboretum at Temple University, Ambler, Penn., retiring after 22 years as a professor in the Dept. of Landscape Architecture & Horticulture. She has received the Garden Communicator Award of the Year from Am. Nursery Landscape Assoc. Feel free to use this release in its entirety or in part, with or without the author’s byline.

Blooms of Bressingham
115 Third St., SE Barberton, OH 44203 Phone: 800.232.9557 Fax: 330.745.3098