Hardy geranium Rozanne

* Common name: Hardy geranium (cranesbill) Rozanne(R)

* Botanical name: Geranium x ‘Gerwat’

* What it is: A durable, low perennial with nickel-sized soft-purple flowers. ‘Rozanne’ is an exceptionally long-blooming variety that can flower almost all summer. It may cost a little more than your typical perennial, but it’s worth the extra cash.

* Size: Grows about 18 inches tall and can spread 3 feet wide in a few years.

* Where to use: Excellent as an underplanting for trees or tall shrubs. Does well in full sun or part shade and is fairly forgiving of root competition from nearby woody plants. Also works well as a border edging, along walkways or along house foundations. Very versatile.

* Care: Almost none. Tough in droughts but also takes damp soil, hardly any pest threats, and even rabbits and deer seldom bother perennial geraniums. Give it a good “haircut” if it gets gangly in summer, and it’ll start blooming again in a few weeks. Cut back to 2 or 3 inches at the end of winter. Scatter an organic, granular fertilizer such as Flower Tone or Bulb Tone over the plants right after this cutback, and that’s it for feeding. Plants can be dug and divided every few years in March if they’re spreading too much.

* Great partner: Most any taller woody plant that can use some color around its feet, including trees, flowering shrubs and most any evergreen. This is a hard one to foul up no matter where you put it.