Geranium macrorrhizum: Fragrant, Tough Groundcover

by Mouton Noir
Geranium macrorrhizum: Fragrant, Tough Groundcover

Geranium macrorrhizum – The Groundcover Workhorse with a Wild Heart

Some plants are quiet doers. They don’t need centre stage or compliments, but they show up season after season, steady and strong. Geranium macrorrhizum, also known as bigroot geranium, is exactly that kind of perennial.

She’s not a diva. She doesn’t sulk in dry shade. She smells amazing. And when everything else is flopping or fretting, she’s still out there covering ground like it’s her life’s purpose. (Because it kind of is.)

If you’ve got tricky spots and want something that earns its keep, this is your girl.

🌿 Get to Know Her: The Basics

  • Common name: Bigroot Geranium

  • Hardiness: Zones 3–8

  • Height: 12–18 inches

  • Spread: Up to 24 inches (and gently expands by rhizomes)

  • Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

  • Flowers: Magenta, pink, or white (depending on cultivar)

  • Foliage: Aromatic, semi-evergreen, deeply lobed, turns reddish in fall

🌸 Bonus: The crushed leaves release a fresh, herbal scent that repels deer and rabbits. Think lemony, a little spicy—like nature’s own bug spray.

🌱 Why Gardeners Love It

Let us count the ways:

  • Tolerates dry shade like a champ

  • Spreads politely—fills space without smothering neighbours

  • Smells divine and discourages critters

  • Incredibly low-maintenance once established

  • Great fall colour—bronze, red, and russet tones

  • Suppresses weeds thanks to its dense, shallow root system

It’s especially great under trees, along pathways, or anywhere you’re tired of mulching and weeding every five minutes.

🌸 Cultivars to Know and Grow

There are a few wonderful versions of this plant—each with its own subtle charm.

‘Bevan’s Variety’

The classic. Rich magenta-pink flowers with fuzzy, deeply fragrant foliage.

🌼 Best for: A strong, bright pop in shady spots.

‘Ingwersen’s Variety’

Soft pale pink blooms and slightly less robust growth. More refined, still tough.

🌸 Best for: Soft palettes and cooler colour schemes.

‘Spessart’

White flowers with a pink flush, slightly slower spread. Elegant and tidy.

🤍 Best for: Lightening up a darker border or pairing with silvers and blues.

🧤 How to Grow (AKA Just Plant It and Walk Away)

Honestly, it’s hard to mess this up. But here’s what it loves most:

  • Light: Part sun to full shade

  • Soil: Well-drained; not picky

  • Water: Drought-tolerant once established

  • Maintenance:

    • Shear it back after blooming if it looks untidy

    • Clean up browned foliage in spring

    • Divide every few years if it outgrows its space

🌿 Pro tip: Plant en masse for full effect. It’s especially striking beneath shrubs, with hostas, ferns, epimedium, and spring bulbs.

🐝 Pollinator Notes

While the blooms aren’t as flashy as some, they’re still visited by bees and early hoverflies. And when you plant a generous patch? That’s a buffet.

🌼 Final Thoughts: A Plant with Heart (and Hustle)

Geranium macrorrhizum is the garden equivalent of a reliable friend who shows up with snacks and a sense of humour. She’ll never demand much, she fits in anywhere, and she quietly keeps the peace between fussier neighbours.

Every garden needs a few show-stoppers. But the ones you fall in love with? They’re usually the ones like this—useful, beautiful, and deeply dependable.

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