Monday, November 22, 2010

Rozanne, Belle of the Ball

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Geranium 'Rozanne'

I feel like since I mention it in almost every post anyway, it was about time to give Geranium 'Rozanne' it's very own post! Introduced by Blooms on Bressingham in 2000, it was named the Perennial Plant of the Year in 2008. I think remembering reading somewhere that it was called the "Geranium of the Millenium", which may be a little bit of hyperbole, but after this season, I'm not inclined to disagree. It has proven hardy, disease-resistant and extremely vigorous and floriferous. While many of my Geraniums got rust this summer, 'Rozanne' was unscathed. 'Rozanne' also manages to remain full all season, avoiding the spindly growth so common in other Geraniums.

Rozanne copy

I planted 3 'Rozanne' this spring, and they have flowered continuously. I actually planted them in a row (rather unusual for me) interspersed with catmint, all the plants grew together relatively quickly, forming a mounding, trailing band of silvery-green foliage and blue flowers at the front of the north border. It combines beautifully with pretty much everything, and I find myself constantly thinking up new combinations for it. The foliage is such a wonderfully cool presence that it harmonizes well with any other foliage near it. The flower have a wonderfully variable color, depending on the light. For the most part, they are a lovely, cool blue. In morning and afternoon light, however, they are a vibrant, dazzling purple.

I love the growth habit of 'Rozanne', it is vigorous and mounding/trailing. It spreads to about 3' in all directions, weaving into neighboring plants in a most appealing way. Unfortunately, with my bad habit of planting things too closely together, they managed to smother 3 purple Heucheras growing nearby (seen at the left). I'm hoping the Heucheras return next spring, at which time I'll move them and replace them with something that can hold it's own with the Geraniums.
'Rozanne' in combination with a purple Heuchera, whose name escapes me!

Rozanne-fresh as a daisy
'Rozanne' in Summer, a veritable bank of color


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This photo shows the range of colors of the leaves, as well as the fact that the plant is still actively (albeit slowly) growing and blooming.

Now that fall is here, their growth and flowering have slowed considerably, but not stopped. They have so far been ignored by the army of voracious slugs in my garden (who demolished the nearby 'Ann Folkard' almost overnight. I was interested to see if the leaves would change color this fall (as some perennial geraniums are apt to do) and they do have the odd red and yellow leaves here and there, but, for the most part, are still green (as are the other Geraniums in my garden).

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Here are a few leaves that are showing flaming red coloration at the tips, slowly fading toward the center.


Portland has very long, drawn-out autumns, which just sort of bleed into winter. Even then, our winters are so mild that some plants stay green all year. I'm wondering if 'Rozanne' will be one of those, or, if it will crumple when do actually get some freezing temps (which, may happen later this week). Only time will tell, but, regardless, it's a wonderful plant and deserves to be in every garden :-)

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This leaf has darker, more maroon coloring, which seems to be the most common on my 'Rozanne' plants.

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Here is a new, bright-green stem that is flowering. There are still a surprising number of flowers appearing and a nice quantity of fresh, green leaves.

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These are my favorite leaves on the plant, yellow with some rich, red edging.

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And finally, we finish with another dewy blossom.

17 comments:

  1. She definitely deserves her own post that's for sure. Mine succumbed to the summer heat & drought this year I think. :(

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  2. I have tried to grow it twice with no luck. I don't know what I do to it! Stunning photography.

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  3. I must get out tommorrow and check and see if mine have leaves as beautiful as the colours here. I can't praise this little plant enough - it was my best buy this year.

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  4. I had three in the front of the house, but the deer ate them. The one survivor I moved to the protected back, and it's still going, even here in the Northeast, whenever it gets a little warmth. Agreed. It deserves plant of the year.

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  5. My first Rozanne, the first year, was astonishing. I think I bought it mail order from Heronwswood, so that was a while ago. Haven't had a performance like that since from other Rozannes. I really like how you're growing it with the nepeta and heuchera. Time to try her again maybe.

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  6. Love the foliage on Rozanne. Lime green shows up so well in the fall and winter gardens. It glows!

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  7. I love Rozanne and use it quite a bit, so you can not mention it too much for me. It looks great with Coralbelles.

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  8. Can anyone make it through this post without falling for Rozanne? Of course your photos could make anything look good.

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  9. She really is a star Scott. I am was interested to hear that some of your geraniums suffer from slug damage as here they seem to turn their mollusc noses up at them. I wonder if that first frost has arrived with you.

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  10. Love new plant discoveries, and this one tops my list of things to plant in 2011. Thanks Scott!

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  11. Thanks for the comments, all!

    perennialgardener: Oh No! I'll cross my fingers that it makes a comeback next spring...you never know!

    Phillip: I hear you, there are some plants I just CANNOT grow, no matter how easily they grow for others...grrrrr.

    leavesnbloom: I agree...such great bang for the buck!

    James: Sorry the deer found them so tasty...glad you have 1 left, at least :-)

    Denise: Give her another go...I'll send good thoughts your way!

    compost: Totally, love ANY color this time of year!

    gardenwalk: I totally agree, she is great in combination with so many other plants...if only I could figure out a good way to propogate her :-(

    ricki: Aww, thanks!

    Anna: I wish they would turn their little noses up...for some reason, they don't bother 'Rozanne', but have completely defoliated 'Ann Folkard', so weird.

    Tom: I hope you get some, they are great, I think our cool-ish summer suit them.

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  12. Though it's a little late to join in on this post, it caught my eye as this is on my wish list for this year. I've read so many wonderful things about it and am now more excited than ever to try it. Now if this snow would just go away.................

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