Geranium macrorrhizum

Geranium macrorrhizum, also known as the bigroot geranium, is part of the large tribe of perennial geraniums and is hardy and commonly grown in our gardens. Native to the Balkans, this wild species makes excellent evergreen ground cover and may be more appreciated for its decorative, aromatic, and carpeting downy foliage than for its flowers, which are rather inconspicuous in the type species though more colourful in its varieties such as Olympos or Spessart. Very tolerant regarding soil and exposure and comfortable growing in the roots of trees and bushes, this geranium, both hardy and drought-resistant, also prevents weeds from growing. It looks very beautiful when planted en masse, forming a very regular and beautifully coloured carpet of red-orange in autumn. It is a valuable perennial for landscaping the base of a hedge, the edge of a semi-shaded path, or the spaces between roses and other shrubs. Once established, it requires no further maintenance.