Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans

CHOCOLATE CRANESBILL

Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans
CHOCOLATE CRANESBILL

Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans is a thoroughly useful groundcover.

Frosted pink flowers & bronze-black foliage

The Chocolate Cranesbill has charming white stars, sitting flat atop dark bronze-black foliage.
And hugs the ground tightly.

Weed suppressing groundcover

So the foliage forms a tight-knit blanket of penny-black leaves (with the occasional burgundy red flush).
That drape across the ground in low mounds year round and help to suppress weeds.
While the pretty blooms stud the foliage mat through summer.

Contrast mat all year round

It creates wonderful colour contrast with the moody dark foliage all year.

Low maintenance, heat, dry & salt tolerant

Even better, Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans is a low maintenance groundcover.
Which is well adapted to heat and happily able to withstand periods of dry as well as frost.

Water-wise & coastal tolerant

Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans is water-wise and a very easy plant to have around, as long as it is in well drained soil.
And is well adapted to coastal gardens, salt air, wind, and sand.
(See “Growing” section below for full details).

Deer & rabbit resistant

Happily the foliage of Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans is aromatic.
While the leaves smell pleasant to us, the flavour is distasteful to our nibbling garden foes, so they prefer to leave the plant alone.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans in a punnet indoors winter, spring or autumn / or scatter directly in garden late winter-early spring.

Sow indoors for early & quick plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.

Then gently pat the seed to the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
Now barely cover with grit/sieved mix/sand/or vermiculite.

Then place the sown punnet in a warm, well-lit position (not in direct sunlight).
And continue keep moist for 2-4 weeks.
Temperatures of 15-20 °C are ideal for rapid and optimum germination.

Some seeds may germinate immediately as this seed are usually quick to germinate.
However if the seeds are shy to germinate after 20-30 days, then a period of chilling will improve germination rates.

So after 2-4 weeks in a warm position, then wrap the moist punnet in cling wrap & place in fridge (not freezer) for 4-6 weeks.
After 4-6 weeks of chilling, remove from fridge, unwrap punnet & return to a warm, well-lit position at 15-20 °C.
Most seedlings should emerge in approx. 30 to 90 days.
But do not discard punnet, as some seedlings may yet come later.

Seed Count: 2 seeds per pack. (Seed of this beauty is scarce).

GROWING: Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans

Height with flowers: 10cm approx.
Width: 50cm approx.
Position: Full Sun, though can also tolerate some Partial Shade.

Soil: Well drained soil and sandy conditions are preferred. But it will enjoy most soils as long as the position drains well and is not frequently wet.
Mulching with gravel under the flat, ground-hugging foliage is a good idea if you have heavier soil, but is not necessary in sandy, rocky or gravel soils.
Acid, neutral and alkaline soil pH are all tolerated, as well as salt winds.

Fragrance: Scented foliage is pleasantly aromatic.
Frost: Frost hardy to minus 12C.
Growth: Evergreen perennial groundcover.
Bees & birds: Another pollinator friendly plant when it is blooming in the summer, attracting birds, bees and other beneficial insects to the garden.

Care: Geranium sessiliflorum f. nigricans prefers deep watering and drying out between waters (avoid sprinkling the lovely foliage too often).
Deer & Rabbit resistant: Geraniums have a slight scent that smells nice to us but isn’t appetising to deer or rabbits.
Origin: Native groundcover from New Zealand.

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