Geranium cinereum Jolly Jewel Night

The perennial Geranium cinereum 'Jolly Jewel Night' is a variety from the new 'Jolly Jewel' series, with very bushy and floriferous plants offering nine very bright colors to liven up the garden or terrace throughout the summer season, without requiring any maintenance. The bicolored and contrasting flowers of the 'Night' variety are pretty small cups of dark purple-pink enhanced by a very dark purple-red heart. They punctuate a delicate and finely cut dark green foliage. It is with its head in the sun and its feet in well-drained soil that it will give its best. Its precious flowers and natural style are well suited to rocky or wild gardens as well as sunny flowerbeds.

The perennial Geranium cinereum, or Ashy Cranesbill, is a member of the Geraniaceae family, native to herbaceous rocky areas in the mountains of southern Europe to the Balkans.

'Jolly Jewel Night', a recent Dutch horticultural variety, has a compact habit and a particularly long and colourful flowering period. It is an herbaceous perennial plant with a woody base that forms a cushion of 20-25 cm (8-10in) in height when in flower, with a minimum spread of 25 cm (10in). Its growth is quite fast, and the plant reaches its full development in two or three years. The foliage, semi-evergreen, is arranged in a rosette. It is composed of small, almost stemless, deeply lobed and divided pubescent leaves, dark green with ashy reflections, soft to the touch. The flowering period, particularly long, extends from May-June to August-September, with open cups, brighter than the type species, dark purple-pink around a very dark red-purple heart, grouped in clusters of 2 or 3. This geranium slowly spreads without ever becoming invasive.  

The perennial Geranium cinereum 'Jolly Jewel Night' will find its place in rock gardens, at the front of perennial beds, and in sunny borders. It will be very effective in a flowerpot or well-drained container. It pairs well with the lovely variety 'Jolly Jewel Salmon' as well as with plants with similar needs such as the perennial Geranium renardii, the perennial Geranium dalmaticum, candytufts, sea lavenders, whorled asters and coreopsis. It is also an ideal small perennial for mountain gardens.