Geranium versicolor

Geranium versicolor is a charming wild geranium, recognisable by its white flowers marked with a fine network of magenta veins. This exceptionally delicate flowering begins in late spring and continues throughout summer, sometimes lasting until September. Easy to grow, long-lived and able to withstand root competition, this perennial forms a particularly useful groundcover beneath roses, at the foot of shrubs and in partially shaded areas of the garden.

Geranium versicolor belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is a perennial botanical species native to southern and central Italy, Sicily, Greece and the Balkan Peninsula. It grows naturally in open woodland, woodland edges, grassy banks and hedgerows. The former name Geranium striatum is still found in horticultural literature. The plant develops from a short, robust rhizomatous crown. It forms a spreading clump 30 to 45 cm in height and 50 to 60 cm in spread, which can gradually widen and self-seed when conditions suit it. It can naturalise in the garden without becoming as invasive as certain hybrid geraniums. Its light green, rounded and deeply divided leaves remain for part of the winter in climates that are not too cold. The cup-shaped flowers, 2.5 to 3 cm across, have five white to very pale pink petals covered with fine magenta-pink veins, whose colour softens as the flowers open fully. The main flowering period is from May to July, followed by a few more flowers until September if the plant does not lack too much water. This geranium is hardy down to –20 °C.

Versicolour geranium is mainly used as a groundcover at the foot of hedges and beneath deciduous shrubs. It also looks at home on a not-too-dry bank, at the edge of woodland or in a naturalistic garden. In the garden, it can be combined with Epimedium × versicolor 'Sulphureum', stinking hellebore 'Wester Flisk', Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae and pink ivy-leaved cyclamen. All these perennials tolerate partial shade and root competition, while providing successive waves of flowers from spring to autumn.