Geranium Blue Cloud

The 'Blue Cloud' Perennial Geranium  is a recent variety awarded by the RHS and destined for a great future. It seems that we won't be able to do without this adorable little invader, with its almost climbing habit, capable of sneaking between other plants to display its unique pale blue flowers, slightly smoky, with fine purple veins. They bloom from May to July, and again in September if pruned. It pairs beautifully with roses, likewise generous, because although it is delicate it is equally exuberant and particularly resilient. It should be planted in well-drained garden soil, in full sun or partial shade.

The 'Blue Cloud' Geranium, from the Geraniaceae family, is possibly a seedling from the 'Nimbus' variety, with which it shares finely cut foliage and a spreading habit. It grows rapidly, with a trailing or climbing habit, reaching 40 to 70 cm (16 to 28in) in height, with a minimum spread of 90 cm (35in), extending a little further if conditions are suitable. The flowering of this geranium is particularly abundant, usually from May to July-August. The shallow cup-shaped flowers have 5 narrow petals and measure 4 cm (2in) in diameter. They are a very soft grey-blue, almost crystalline, and have fine purple veins. The deeply incised deciduous foliage appears very early in spring, with an ornamental acidic green colour that darkens in summer. This light and wandering perennial sends out diffuse, 60 cm (24in) long, branching stems that lie on the ground or rise by taking support from neighbouring plants, without rooting.

'Blue Cloud' associates with numerous perennial plants or bushes in flowerbeds. But it is undoubtedly with roses that it forms the most beautiful combinations: 'Felicia', 'Tapis Volant', 'Tuscany Superb', 'Perdita' or 'Opalia' will welcome its blue stars among their flower-laden branches. It can also be accompanied by catmints, yarrows, bellflowers, or daylilies ('Kwanso Flore Pleno'). Perfect at the edge of borders, in flowerbeds, but also in pots where it will happily spill over. It can also be planted above a low wall, in a semi-shaded rockery, with its base in the shade and its head in the sun, among corydalis or Chrysogonum virginianum. It also likes to nestle under the low branches of shrubs, where it is never suffocating - except for the weeds.