Geranium macrorrhizum is a species of hardy flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the genus Geranium, family Geraniaceae. It is native to the South east Alps and the Balkans. Its common names include bigroot geranium, Bulgarian geranium, and rock crane’s-bill. Botanical name:Geranium macrorrhizum Virtues: An easy-to-please groundcover that chokes out weeds and looks nice from spring right through fall. Flower: 5-petaled pink flowers appear in late spring. Can rebloom in summer. Foliage: Deeply lobed and fragrant, the green leaves turn reddish bronze in fall. Habit: Clump-forming groundcover that spreads by thick rhizomes. Grows 12 to 18 inches high. Season: Spring through fall. Origin: Southern Europe Cultivation: Average soil, full sun to partial shade. Stands up to drought and hot summers. A good companion for summer- and fall-flowering bulbs, as it fills in gaps before they bloom, and can be sheared back when they come into bloom. Can self-sow; remove spent flowers to avoid this. USDA Zones 3–8.
