Geranium Platypetalum

Geranium platypetalum is commonly known as Broad-Petaled Geranium. This wild geranium plant belongs to the genus Geranium (Cranesbills). Geraniums, Pelargoniums (scented geraniums) and Erodiums are members of the Geraniaceae family.

Geranium platypetalum is an herbaceous perennial plant that is native of the Caucasus regions.

Like many other wild geranium species, this plants fits very well into a near-natural garden and is a superb food and nectar plant for many insects like butterfly, moths, bees, bumblebees, flies and others.

The wild Geranium platypetalum and its few cultivars are occasionally grown in gardens and parks. It has quite big, broad petaled, attractive and deep blue to deep violet flowers.

They are good groundcover and bedding plants that are tough and versatile and very easy to grow. These cranesbill plants like to grow in sunny to half-shady places in nutrient-rich soils. Keep the soil well drained and moist, but do not overwater the plants. They can grow from 0.5 to 1 m (20 to 40 inches) in height.

The plants are cold resistant and therefore winter hardy. You do not have to cover them for protection during winter season.

Propagation: The plants can be divided in spring and in the end of summer. They can also be propagated by basal cuttings.

Pruning: Trim the plants after flowering. This will rejuvenate the plants and the flowers and foliage will grow back nicely.

Cultivated Geranium Platypetalum Varieties Include:

G. platypetalum 'Fliederballet' – Flowers: White. Very rare cultivar!
G. platypetalum 'Genyell' – Flowers: Deep blue.
G. platypetalum 'Georgia Blue' – Flowers: Vibrant blue-violet with visible veins.
G. platypetalum 'Gletschereis' – Flowers: All-white. Rare cultivar.
G. platypetalum 'Sambo'
G. platypetalum 'Turco' - Flowers: Vibrant blue-violet with white centre. Foliage: dark green.

Another pretty and popular hybrid is the Rosemoor Geranium, also called Showy Geranium or Purple Cranesbill (Geranium x magnificum). It is a crossbreed between Geranium ibericum and G. platypetalum. The big flowers (at least 2 inches/5 cm across) have a vibrant blue-violet colour and they bloom in June to July and later again in autumn until October if you trim the plant after the summer bloom. Further more, the foliage has a lovely red colour in autumn.

The plants grow up to 50 cm (20 inches) in height. They can be well combined with peony flowers, euphorbias and lady’s mantles (alchemilla).

This hybrid is sterile and you do not have to worry about excessive self-seeding and it will only grow when you plant it. The plants are very hardy and they tolerate dry to humid conditions.

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