Geranium soboliferum Starman

The Perennial Geranium 'Starman', derived from Geranium soboliferum, is undoubtedly one of the most variegated. It stands out with its bicolour summer flowering; each single flower displays a fresh pink colour variegated with magenta purple in the centre and veined in the same tone. Its intensely dissected and changing foliage adorns a low and spreading vegetation, allowing ground cover use. It is an original, very colourful plant, but delicate to grow that is suitable for sunny flowerbeds and grows in ordinary soil, moist to wet but well-drained. This variety is particularly well-adapted to subalpine gardens.

Geranium soboliferum, or Cranesbill with runners, is a perennial species with creeping stems native to East Asia, Eastern Russia including Siberia, and the cold province of the Amur River. It is also found in Korea and Japan, on the island of Honshu. Little known but extremely hardy and very floriferous, it has given rise to the 'Starman' variety, a remarkable recent cultivar with bright flowers.

'Starman' forms a compact and spreading clump that can reach 25 to 35 cm (10 to 14in) in height when in flower, spreading thanks to creeping stems bearing 'runners'*, over a diameter of 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in). Its growth is often slow in ordinary soil. Its flowering begins at the end of June, reaches its peak in July-August in moist soil, and continues more sporadically until September-October. The flowers are quite large compared to the size of the plant, in well-opened cups, composed of 5 slightly villous petals, overall with a very bright bicolour pink appearance. The foliage, particularly dissected into narrow palmate lobes, emerges golden in spring, gradually becomes a vivid green in summer, then takes on bronze to purple hues in autumn.

* Runners are fleshy tuberous parts present on creeping stems, which have the ability to regenerate a seedling. They are somewhat plant embryos.

Like many other perennial geranium species, Geranium 'Starman' is a superb plant, providing nectar and pollen for many insects such as butterflies, bees, bumblebees, etc. But it has an extraordinary floribundity in moist soil. This variety is ideal for a herb garden, a rose grove, along a path or at the base of a not too demanding flowering bush, which will allow it to climb a little. 'Starman' will bring a very colourful note to shade perennial beds such as lamiums or epimediums, regardless of its exposure, even if it is slightly less showy, it flowers very well even in light shade. It will prove to be a good companion for columbines, peonies, lupins, bellflowers, poppies, and other large daisies.