Photos thanks to Midwest Groundcovers.

2015 Perennial Plant of the Year®

Geranium xcantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ is the 2015 Perennial Plant of the Year™. Geranium xcantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’, pronounced jer-AY-nee-um kan-tuh-brij-ee-EN-see bi-o-KO-vo, carries several common names including Biokovo geranium and Biokovo cranesbill. The plant is a member of the Geraniaceae family.

Dr. Hans Simon, Marktheidenfeld, Germany, found ‘Biokovo’, a naturally occurring hybrid of Geranium da/maticum and Geranium macrorrhizum, in the Biokovo Mountains of the Dalmatia region of present-day Croatia. Geranium is derived from Greek “geranos”, describing the cranes bill-appearing fruit and the Latin “Cantabrigia” for “of or pertaining to Cambridge, England.”

‘Biokovo’ blooms in late spring with delightful masses of 5-petaled white flowers, about.” diameter. This excellent groundcover perennial reaches 6-10″ high. Petals are tinged pink at the base and have darker pink center stamens. The overall effect is that of a blushing pink geranium. An interesting attraction is the flower ‘bud’ that is somewhat inflated – actually made up of the sepals which are redder than the petals. When the flower opens the lightly tinged pink flowers provide a handsome contrast to the sepals and stamens. The aromatic foliage has rounded leaf edges, is a medium green color, and is semi-evergreen in most climates. It forms an attractive mound that offers scarlet and orange fall colors.

‘Biokovo’ does well in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It is easy to grow and only requires deadheading (removing old flowers) to keep it looking good. It forms an attractive mound that offers scarlet and orange fall colors to your garden. Cut away any dead foliage in the spring and ‘Biokovo’ is ready for the garden season. The plant tends to be deer- and rabbit resistant.

This geranium spreads by sending out runners, or rhizomes. However, not being a deeply rooted perennial, removal is not strenuous. Best garden placement is as a ground cover or in the front of the border. It also does well in rock gardens.

Plant ‘Biokovo’ next to Japanese painted fern. Pick up color echoes between the pink flowers and maroon foliage tones that contrast with the silver streaks in the fern fronds. It also pairs nicely with late spring blooming penstemons such as ‘Prairie Dusk’ with clear purple flowers, or ‘Pink Rock Candy’ offering bright pink flowers on compact stems.

Photo thanks to Jon Peter, Royal Botanical Gardens.

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PLANT DATA

Hardiness
USDA Zones 4 to 8

Light
Full sun to partial shade

Soil
Prefers average, well-drained soil