Geranium ibericum subsp. jubatum Vital

The 'Vital' evergreen Geranium ibericum forms a round and vigorous clump with cordate and velvety leaves. It produces light bouquets of very bright flowers in intense violet-blue cups with dark blue veins in summer. The semi-evergreen foliage takes on beautiful autumn colours. A sturdy plant, ideal for natural gardens, it thrives in well-drained soil and is not affected by severe winter cold or summer heat.

Geranium ibericum ssp. jubatum 'Vital' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is a cultivar derived from Geranium ibericum ssp jubatum, which originates not from Spain, but from northern Turkey. This hardy herbaceous perennial forms a wide and regular dome, reaching a height of 40 cm (16in) and a diameter of 50 cm (20in). Its growth is quite rapid. It blooms in summer, in June-July, with deep ultramarine blue flowers that tend towards violet, marked with even darker blue veins. Each of the 5 petals of the flower is notched. The cup-shaped corollas, grouped in compact cymes, face upwards and measure 4 to 5 cm (2in) in diameter. The foliage is pubescent, round and palmate, divided, semi-evergreen, with a beautiful bright green colour during the growing season and turning reddish-orange in autumn.

Geranium ibericum ssp. jubatum 'Vital' is suitable for all types of gardens, from wild gardens to cottage gardens, sunny slopes, and well-maintained flowerbeds. It grows well in large pots on the terrace or balcony. It pairs well with orange blooms, such as daylilies, Chinese bellflower, Alstroemeria aurantiaca, or the yellow of lady's mantle, and the vibrant foliage of Heuchera 'Caramel'.

Geranium platypetalum, which originates from the same region, is a very similar plant. G.ibericum and G.platypetalum readily hybridise to create the sterile Geranium x magnificum.