Geranium sessiliflorum Bobs Blunder

The perennial geranium 'Bob's Blunder' quickly forms an adorable low ground cover with its compact growth and spreading habit. Its small light pink, pearly flowers are not spectacular, but they keep blooming until the first frosts, and stand out nicely against its amazing dark foliage, brown with silver tints and tinged with bronze. Hardy and accommodating, it thrives in a not too dry soil in partial shade or gentle sun. It will cover the ground alongside a pathway, punctuate a rockery or border, or fill a pot on the terrace. Unusual and charming!

The hybrid perennial geranium 'Bob's Blunder' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. This horticultural creation, whose parentage is kept secret, is likely a descendant of Geranium sessiliflorum nigricans, with which it shares many characteristics. This rare species is a small plant native to the high mountain meadows of New Zealand and is distinguished by its very dark bronze foliage, almost black, dotted with small pink flowers with white centres.

This recent hybrid forms ground cover barely 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12in) tall, spreading up to 60 cm (24in), or more under optimal conditions, reaching its adult size in 2 to 5 years. It has a compact, dense and spreading habit and rapid growth. It displays numerous funnel-shaped flowers from May to November, in a bright light pink with white centres. Its leaves have a soft appearance, are slightly hairy, rounded, and lightly lobed, with visible veins. The deciduous foliage is beautiful and dark, chocolate brown, with silver nuances, where a more intense bronze glow shines through in summer.

This perennial geranium makes dark, unusual, and beautiful ground cover that is also easy to grow in partial shade and in moist soil. It will find its place in rock gardens, perennial or low shrub borders, alongside pathways, on slopes, or in large pots on the terrace. It is a good companion for liverworts, corydalis, columbines, peonies, and even ferns in moist soil. In drier soil, it can be paired, for example, with a Baby's Breath 'Rosenschleier', small periwinkles, the Ceratostigma plumbaginoides with its sumptuous red and electric blue flowers in late season, or to cover the base of a 'Felicia' rose with its endless blooming.