Geranium psilostemon Red Admiral

Geranium psilostemon 'Red Admiral' is a magnificent recently bred hybrid perennial geranium. It offers a truly captivating magenta-pink flowering. Its foliage forms a dome of dark green leaves, similar to that of the wood geranium, but it is covered with even brighter flowers than those of the psilostemon geranium from summer to autumn. Thick and short black veins converge towards the satin heart of each corolla. Before bidding farewell, its leaves turn purple in autumn. This variety is promised a bright future. It prefers, like its first parent, partial shade and the moisture of light woodland.

Geranium psilostemon, also known as Armenian Geranium, or formerly Geranium armenum, has given rise to a surprising hybrid called 'Red Admiral' through cross-breeding with Geranium sylvaticum 'Baker's Pink', which is commonly known as Wood Geranium. This hybrid is named 'Red Admiral' due to the brilliance of its large flowers and foliage. Like its parents, the plant belongs to the Geraniaceae family. This perennial exhibits a regular and bushy dome-shaped growth from spring. It will reach a height of 60cm (24in) when in bloom, depending on growing conditions, with a minimum diameter of 60cm (24in). Its growth rate is quite slow. Flowering begins in June and continues until September. The inflorescence is a compound cyme of round and open flowers in a fascinating magenta pink-red colour, which is very different from the colours usually found in descendants of G. psilostemon. The flowers have a texture reminiscent of satin and measure 5cm (2in) in diameter. This geranium has dark green foliage, composed of toothed leaves divided into seven lobes. They are tinged with purple in spring and red in autumn. It overwinters in the form of underground roots.

'Red Admiral' is a wonderful plant for flower beds and cool embankments, away from the scorching rays of the sun. It is ideal in cottage gardens. Pair it with evening primroses, mulleins, paniculate gypsophila, Crambe cordifolia, bronze fennel, goldenrod, purple knapweed, Aster laevis, and all tall perennials that will not overshadow its slightly theatrical charm. It also grows very well in large pots, with appropriate fertiliser and watering.