I think for a small garden Rozanne is a better plant, on balance, because it has less 'down time' and doesn't create a big gap like some others do when it goes over. This is more of a big deal in a small space. In a larger garden the impressive display of Johnsons Blue, Brookside etc make them worth planting for the early to mid summer display.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
I have Rozanne and like it a lot, but find that when a plant is very floriferous for a long time, I get a bit sick of the sight of it by this point in the Summer, although I won't get rid of the Rozanne.
I felt the same way about Erymsimum Bowles Mauve, and got rid of that, and I am starting to feel that way about Petunia Tidal Red Velour (throw me in the stocks!). The more briefly a plant flowers, the more excited I am to see the flowers, and the more I value it.
I like Roxanne too, it’s a good doer and I’ve found that the more I cut it back in my garden it grows back more compact and denser and just as floriferous.
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
I wish all my geraniums would be more compact. I have 'Nimbus' too, and it's a lovely thing, still flowering. I just went out to measure it. 7 ft X 7 ft! And we've had a very hot dry summer here, unlike elsewhere. 'Brookside' and ' Johnsons Blue' also get far bigger than described on labels or in articles, easily 4 to 5 ft across. Yet when to cut back to keep them compact? Not when they are coming up to flowering or in full bloom surely?
I like Roxanne too, it’s a good doer and I’ve found that the more I cut it back in my garden it grows back more compact and denser and just as floriferous.
I have several 'Rozanne' on a slight slope. They are lovely, but tend to flop forward leaving an expanse of bare stems behind them, flat on the ground. I may try this idea, but presumably you just cut it back when it's in full flower?
@Woodgreen - you can cut back when the flowers are going over, and you should get a 2nd flush with a bit of luck, and certainly some fresh new growth, which might be more compact. Or, you could try doing a Chelsea chop type of method, and cut them back before they get too big. It would delay flowering a bit, but it might keep them a little more restrained. Worth trying maybe?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I find it flowers in flushes and I have cut back when in full flower as it’s sprawling everywhere and also when just a few flowers left, it just keeps bouncing back no matter what I do, the ones that are in semi shade don’t romp away as much as those in full sun and seem to be better behaved!
Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.
Thanks, @Fairygirl, I think I'll try the early chop next year on 'Brookside' and 'Johnsons Blue', see if it works. I already do cut back hard as the flowering goes over, but by then they have covered a lot of ground. 'Nimbus' is the worst offender, it gets so big. Maybe I should cut it back earlier, sacrifice some flowering and hope for a second flush. I'll try next year.
They clearly enjoy your conditions @Woodgreen Worth experimenting a bit though. They can get a bit above themselves when they're happy. I've got one of those bio kovo ones here, which I inherited, and it was useful when I wanted some ground cover in new borders, but frankly, it's now worse than a weed,and I'm going to have to haul it all out. I don't even like it - horrible, peely wally, pale pinky/white colour. If it was white it would be fine
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I felt the same way about Erymsimum Bowles Mauve, and got rid of that, and I am starting to feel that way about Petunia Tidal Red Velour (throw me in the stocks!). The more briefly a plant flowers, the more excited I am to see the flowers, and the more I value it.
7 ft X 7 ft! And we've had a very hot dry summer here, unlike elsewhere. 'Brookside' and ' Johnsons Blue' also get far bigger than described on labels or in articles, easily 4 to 5 ft across.
Yet when to cut back to keep them compact? Not when they are coming up to flowering or in full bloom surely?
Or, you could try doing a Chelsea chop type of method, and cut them back before they get too big. It would delay flowering a bit, but it might keep them a little more restrained. Worth trying maybe?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
'Nimbus' is the worst offender, it gets so big. Maybe I should cut it back earlier, sacrifice some flowering and hope for a second flush.
I'll try next year.
Worth experimenting a bit though. They can get a bit above themselves when they're happy. I've got one of those bio kovo ones here, which I inherited, and it was useful when I wanted some ground cover in new borders, but frankly, it's now worse than a weed,and I'm going to have to haul it all out.
I don't even like it - horrible, peely wally, pale pinky/white colour. If it was white it would be fine
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...