Geranium Ann Folkard

The 'Ann Folkard' perennial Geranium is a magnificent hybrid, an exuberant plant with generous and colourful flowering. It forms large creeping stems that, when they encounter an obstacle, rise to a height of almost 2 metres (7 feet). Its corollas of intense magenta colour have veins and a very contrasting black centre. They bloom on beautiful golden toothed foliage in spring, turning green in summer. This exceptional perennial plant, an award-winner in England, should be planted near your most beautiful roses!

The 'Ann Folkard' Geranium is a hybrid of the famous Geranium psilostemon, known for its abundant magenta and black flowering, and the creeping Geranium procurrens. It has the hardiness and abundant flowering of one, and the vigour and colourful foliage of the other. From the robust stump, spring shoots grow that extend along the ground or take support from neighbouring plants. Without support it forms a wide and beautiful cushion, reaching a height of 50-60 cm (20-24in) and a width of 80 cm (32in) to 1.20 m (4ft). Its palmate and toothed leaves are so pale green at the beginning of their growth that they appear golden. It blooms from June to October. The magenta-red flowers, veined with black and with a black eye, have a diameter of 3-4 cm (1-2in) and bloom for months. The above-ground vegetation, deciduous, dries up in autumn.

Plant the 'Ann Folkard' hybrid Geranium in sunny, rich, rather moist and light soil, in a perennial border or bed, accompanied by e.g. bellflowers, delphiniums, Damask nigellas, yarrows, blue, pink or purple bushy salvias. This variety is remarkable at the base of flowerbed roses or shrub roses, which it climbs without invading them.