Geranium bohemicum 'Orchid Blue'

Geranium 'Orchid Blue' is a simply stunning plant, producing clusters of saucer shaped flowers of a rarely seen shade of pure orchid-blue, each with purple-violet veins. Growing 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) in height, this new-on-the-scene plant soon spreads to form low hummocks of deeply cut soft green, leaves.

Suitable for any well drained soil, ‘Orchid Blue’ are at their best in full sun, they are invaluable for their pretty flowers, attractive foliage, and their ability to cover the ground, a contribution in the suppression of weeds in the border. This short lived perennial will flower the first year from an early sowing and self-seed modestly in the garden.
They have a willingness to flourish without any special attention, and what is more they are disease-resistant which in my book makes them irreplaceable for most garden situations.

Sowing: Sow in late winter/late spring or in late summer/autumn.
'Orchid Blue' will bloom in summer from an autumn planting, or May to June the following year
Fill pots, cells of trays with a good seed starting compost. (John Innes or similar). Sit the containers in water to moisten thoroughly..
Sow the seeds 2.5cm (1in) apart, on the surface of the compost and cover seed with vermiculite, sand or sieved compost after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet.
Perennial geraniums germinate over several weeks, usually between 30 to 60 days at temperatures around 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F). Constant moisture must be maintained. Do not leave in direct sunlight
Transplant the seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots to grow on. Avoid large pots, because the compost will be wet permanently and wetness can a cause growth inhibition and a poor root development.
Overwinter autumn sown seedlings indoors frost free at 3 to 5 °C (37 to 41°F). If outdoors use an outdoor fleece cover to protect the plants.
Plant outdoors in spring after the last expected frosts. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out into their permanent positions. Space 30 to 40cm (12 to 15in) apart.

Cultivation:
Low-moderate fertilisation levels are required use a complete balanced fertiliser. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Very high nitrogen levels will cause shoot stretching and then the shoots fall apart.
The roots are sensitive to wet substrates which can cause rotting of roots and poor plant quality. Allow for the plants to dry thoroughly between irrigations.

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flowers Borders and Beds, Wildlife / Butterfly Garden. Beekeeping.
Full sun to partial shady locations. Rock gardens, stone walls, perennial borders, ground cover, large containers
Geranium is the official flower for a 4th Wedding Anniversary and the perfect gift!

Origin:
Geranium bohemicum is native to central and Eastern Europe

Nomenclature:
The name Geranium comes from the Greek 'geranion', which is a diminutive of 'geranos' meaning crane. It gets its common name 'crane’s bill' from the 'beak' over the seed pod and is also called storksbill in some areas.
The name “crowfoot” is often used for geraniums, because the leaves resemble buttercups, which historically used to be called crowfoots