Plant Min Zone: 4a
Plant Max Zone: 8a
Sunlight: Part Sun
Water / Rainfall: Low, Average
Soil Quality: Average
Bloom Season: Spring, Early Summer
Flower Color: Pink, Purple
Berry / Fruit Color: None
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: Yes
Winter Interest: Yes
Scented Flowers: Yes
Drought Tolerance: Medium, High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Low, Medium
Wind Tolerance: Medium, High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Sandy Soils, Shallow Soils
Height: 0.75' - 1'
Width: 1' - 2'
Growth Rate: Slow, Medium
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Evergreen Perennial Only if Winter-Kill Occurs.
Plant Grouping Size: Small Grouping of 3-5, Medium Grouping of 5-10
Best Side of House: South Exposure, East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Root-Bound Soils Under Tree, Survives Severe Drought, Top of Retaining Wall Locations
Ornamental Features: Long Lasting Fall Color, Bright Winter Color, Emerges Early in Spring, Multiple Seasons of Interest, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: Groundcover
Possible Pest Problems: Root Rot Disease
Plant Limitations: Needs Excellent Drainage
Geranium macrorrhizum, commonly called Bigroot Geranium is native to the Southeast Alps and the Balkans. It features highly aromatic fuzzy leaves that leave you wanting another sniff after crushing a leaf in your hand. Early summer pink, rose, or white flowers form depending on the cultivar. It forms a weed-suppressing mat of rhizomatous semi-evergreen perennial that typically grows to 12" tall but spreads to 24" wide. Root rot can be a problem in poor drainage areas. Bigroot Geranium is the most drought tolerant of the hardy geraniums earning a spot in the dry shade garden; it cannot handle extreme drought or extremely rootbound soils though. It prefers average to dry garden conditions with dappled or morning sun. Sun burning is possible with temperatures over 100° so avoid full afternoon sun. Plantings can thrive for decades if in the right spot as there is no such thing as overcrowding for Big Root Geranium. When planted in mass, growth is slow at first but eventually a cake-like rhizome system will form and completely smother out any weeds and compete well with trees for water and nutrients. The growth rate is slow at first so space new plants relatively close together is desiring this effect.