Perennial of the Year 2008

The Perennial Plant Association is a North American group of growers, garden designers, nursery and garden centre owners. As members, this group votes for the Perennial of the Year, as well as nominating future plants for the award. Perennials of the year are usually known for their year-round interest, their ease of care, their ability to thrive in a wide range of zones and varying growing conditions. This year's choice is Geranium ‘Rozanne’ — a perennial geranium. ‘Rozanne’ naturally grows in a clump – and is ideal as an edger or a border plant. Framed by green leaves, her large violetblue cup-shaped blooms (with large white eyes and purple violet veins) are held up on delicate wiry stems, and as we all like to hear, she has a good repeat-blooming habit, having started to flower in late May to early June. If you feel Rozanne is looking a bit leggy, you can give her a good trim back in midsummer. She reaches about 40-50 cm (16-20”) tall and her spread is just a bit wider. She prefers sun to part sun/part shade – but would prefer to stay out of our hot afternoon sun. Rozanne is hardy in the Ottawa area – rated for Zone 5. She isn’t very fussy about soil – average to moist, and well drained.Lots of people even like her in a container or a window box for the season.