Geranium wallichianum Magical All Summer Joy

The Perennial Geranium Magical All Summer Joy is a recent variety that will appeal to fans of the famous Rozanne to which it can be compared for its incredible floribundance. Its flowers, a pretty mauve pink veined with purple, bloom continuously from late spring to autumn on its vegetation that forms a large cushion of fresh green leaves. It effortlessly creates magnificent ground cover, in full sun or partial shade. Hardy, very floriferous, and tolerant, it only fears dry or waterlogged soils, especially in winter.

The Geranium Magical 'All Summer Joy' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. This selection comes from a wild Himalayan species called Geranium wallichianum, found from Afghanistan to India. In the wild, this geranium grows up to about 3600 m (11811ft) in altitude, on slopes, in forests, and among shrubbery. 'All Summer Joy' has a low, dense, and wide dome-shaped habit, reaching approximately 30-40 cm (12-16in) in height, with a spread of at least 50 cm (20in), sometimes even more depending on the conditions. This geranium has an exceptionally long flowering period, from June to October-November, depending on the climate. The cup-shaped flowers measure 3 cm (1in) in diameter and are adorned with a bright hue, a mauve with pink and blue reflections crossed by fine purple veins that plunge into an almost white throat. Violet stamens dominate the center. The foliage is deciduous in winter, finely cut and divided, of a medium green color that sometimes turns red in autumn. The leaves are deeply lobed, puckered, with serrated edges. This perennial produces highly branched creeping stems from its stump, which lie slightly on the ground and do not root. It has a fairly specific root system, with a central and single taproot, and a few large fibrous secondary roots. Once established, the plant does not like to be moved.

The Perennial Geranium wallichianum Magical All Summer Joy is ideal for bordering paths or beds, as well as in flower beds. In partially shaded areas, it will thrive alongside Campanula 'Burghaltii' and Pulmonaria 'Diane Claire' with their beautiful silver foliage. It can also be planted above a wall, in a semi-shaded rockery where it will lean, with its base in the shade and its head in the sun, among corydalis, Chiastophyllum oppositifolium, or Chrysogonum virginianum. It likes to creep under low branches of shrubs, where it is never suffocating, except for weeds.