| Common Name | Rozanne Geranium |
| Botanical Name | Geranium ‘Gerwat’ (Rozanne) |
| Family | Geraniaceae |
| Plant Type | Herbaceous perennial |
| Hardiness Zone | 5-8 |
| Mature Size | 18-20 in tall, 24-28 in wide |
| Sun Exposure | Full sun to part shade |
| Soil | Average, well-drained |
| Bloom Time | June to frost |
| Bloom Color | Violet-blue with white center |
| Deer Resistant | Yes |
| Pollinator Friendly | Yes (bees) |
Why Rozanne Geranium for Wisconsin
Rozanne blooms from June until hard frost. That is not an exaggeration. Most perennials give you two to three weeks of flowers. Rozanne gives you five months. The violet-blue flowers with white centers appear nonstop without deadheading. It fills in gaps, spills over edges, and covers ground that would otherwise be weeds. Hardy to Zone 5, it comes back reliably year after year.
Planting Instructions
When: Spring through early fall. Very forgiving about planting time.
Where: Full sun to part shade. More sun means more flowers, but it handles afternoon shade fine.
How: Space plants 24-28 inches apart. They spread to fill in. Plant at the same depth as the container. Water well at planting.
Care Throughout the Season
Spring: New foliage emerges in mid-spring. No action needed.
Summer: Blooms start in June and keep going. No deadheading required. Water during drought.
Fall: Still blooming. The foliage often turns red or orange before frost, adding another layer of interest.
Winter: Cut back dead foliage after a hard freeze. Mulch lightly for the first winter.
Common Problems in Wisconsin
Slugs: Occasionally a problem in very wet, shady conditions. Good drainage prevents most issues.
Flopping: In too much shade, stems can get leggy. More sun keeps it compact. You can shear it back mid-season if needed and it will rebloom.
Companion Planting
Daylilies provide height above Rozanne’s mounding habit. Catmint creates a blue-and-purple drift. Coneflower adds contrast with warm tones. Hosta pairs well in part-shade situations. Ornamental grasses provide texture contrast.
Design and Landscape Uses
Rozanne is a gap-filler. Plant it at the front of borders, along walkways, in rock gardens, or as a groundcover under roses. It weaves between other plants and fills bare spots that would otherwise need mulching or weeding. One of the most versatile perennials you can own.
Fun Fact
Rozanne was named the Perennial Plant Association’s Plant of the Year in 2008. It was discovered by chance in a Somerset, England garden where two different geranium species had crossed naturally. The gardeners, Donald and Rozanne Waterer, recognized something special and sent it to a nursery for propagation. It’s been one of the best-selling perennials worldwide ever since.
Rozanne Geranium is available at our Cedarburg nursery.
One plant covers a lot of ground.