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Geranium x 'Rozanne'

Geranium x 'Rozanne' has large single violet-blue flowers with white centres, appearing from June until the first frosts.

A combination of a long flowering period and vigorous yet compact habit makes Geranium x 'Rozanne' especially versatile for growing in borders, patio containers or even hanging baskets - growing to a height of 40cms (16 inches) x 60cms (24 inches) wide.

In 1992 Blooms of Bressingham were approached by Geranium x 'Rozanne' discoverers Donald and Rozanne Waterer.

In their retirement garden packed with plants, the two parents of G. x 'Rozanne', G. himalayense and G. wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' were growing side by side.

Normally G. himalayense flowers much earlier in June and finishes flowering by the time G. wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' comes into flower in late July and August. In 1989 Rozanne collected and sowed seed of these plants, unaware of the potential of just one of those seedlings.

The unique young seedling was planted out in 1989 and soon exhibited larger leaves, more vigorous growth and flowers which although of a similar appearance to 'Buxton's Variety' were deeper blue and twice as large, improvements which were noted with increasing excitement by Donald and Rozanne.

Though they knew this was likely to be an outstanding plant in 1991 they took further advice by sending flowers and foliage samples to perennial expert Graham Stuart Thomas and to Geranium specialist and Taxonomist at the University Botanic Garden, Cambridge.

Dr Peter Yeo, both of whom immediately recognised it as being a potentially outstanding new cultivar.

By 1992, the only plant in existence was in the Waterer's Somerset garden. Donald and Rozanne wrote to Adrian Bloom to see if Blooms of Bressingham might act as their agent for G. x 'Rozanne'. Their original plant was now 3-4 feet in diameter and 21 inches in height.

Continuing trials indicated that 'Rozanne' loved hot weather, its wallichianum genes responding well where many other Geraniums would wilt in the heat and humidity. Trials in Germany showed its true versatility and a single plant created a fantastic display in a hanging basket.

Blooms of Bressingham launched this plant at Chelsea Flower Show 2000.

Updated 20th September 2001

Dirk van der Werff

PHOTO COPYRIGHT © DIRK VAN DER WERFF

Posted: 15 May 2000
Last modified: 13 May 2007

TO ORDER THIS PHOTOGRAPH AS A HIGH RESOLUTION DIGITAL FILE SUITABLE FOR REPRODUCTION PLEASE e-mail: dirk@plants-magazine.com

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