Geranium 'Biokovo'

Geranium 'Biokovo': Soft Groundcover with Alpine Grace
Delicate in bloom but rugged at heart, Geranium 'Biokovo' forms a fragrant, low-growing carpet of finely lobed green leaves, topped in late spring with a profusion of blush-white flowers lightly flushed with pink. Named after the Biokovo Mountains of Croatia, where it was discovered, this naturally occurring hybrid is prized for its adaptability, subtle beauty, and semi-evergreen presence. As the seasons shift, the foliage takes on lovely red and bronze hues, offering year-round interest in borders, underplantings, and woodland edges.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 20–25 cm
• Spread: 40–60 cm, slowly spreading by rhizomes
• Flower Colour: Pale pink to white with soft pink centres and blush-tinged petals
• Flowering Period: Late spring to early summer; sporadic rebloom into autumn
• Foliage: Aromatic, deeply lobed green leaves; turns reddish in fall and often semi-evergreen
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained to dry soils; drought-tolerant once established

Uses and Benefits: Geranium 'Biokovo' is an outstanding groundcover for shady to partly sunny sites, where it suppresses weeds, stabilizes soil, and adds a long season of colour and texture. Its soft-toned flowers attract bees in spring, while the spicy-scented foliage resists deer and rabbits. Ideal for edging paths, filling under shrubs, or naturalizing along woodland borders, this cultivar is a low-maintenance solution for creating cohesion and calm in mixed plantings.

Companion Plants: Pair Geranium 'Biokovo' with Hosta 'Touch of Class', whose blue-green and chartreuse leaves offer bold contrast and structure beneath dappled shade. Add Dryopteris 'Brilliance', whose coppery fronds echo the geranium’s fall tones and contribute to layered texture. Complete the palette with Pulmonaria 'Trevi Fountain', whose silver-flecked foliage and blue spring flowers harmonize with Biokovo’s blush blooms.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment; afterward, the plant is drought-tolerant and thrives with minimal care. Shear back lightly after flowering to maintain a tidy habit and encourage fresh foliage. Divide every 3–5 years in spring or fall to rejuvenate and control spread.

History: Geranium 'Biokovo' is a naturally occurring hybrid between Geranium macrorrhizum and Geranium dalmaticum, discovered in the Biokovo Mountains of Croatia. Its elegant habit, soft colour palette, and adaptability earned it the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit and a permanent place in shade gardens worldwide.

Final Thoughts: Understated yet enduring, Geranium 'Biokovo' offers a gentle presence and a tough constitution—blending romantic bloom with dependable groundcover performance. It softens paths, fills shaded spaces, and weaves through borders with quiet confidence. A perfect marriage of alpine elegance and garden reliability, it’s a true classic in every sense.