It's very hard to say but probably something like 'Johnson's Blue' or 'Rozanne'. They do get surface rhizomes like that as they mature. Plenty of propagation material there! Dig up, divide, replant with the long rhizomes a bit more buried under the surface (leaves poking out of course). Or... just leave as-is.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
They're very easy to propagate. You can just divide in spring, or almost any time of year, pot up and stick somewhere sheltered until they're big enough to plant out.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
JennyJ I am pretty sure they were blue/purpley. Maybe I can repost once they flower!
In that case most likely a hardy geranium, as others have said, there are lots of blue/purple varieties. I don't know of any blue/purple pelargoniums, the closest I've seen are lilacy mauve or burgundy/plummy red or fuchsia pink. If you'd said red, it would be the opposite, lots of red pelargoniums but no red geraniums (that I know of, anyway). Pink or white could have been either.
Some of my geraniums develop those bare straggly stems, particularly the sanguineum types. I either cut them off and they grow from below (and they will sometimes take as cuttings), or pile on some soil or compost or whatever mulch material I have, depending on where they are in the borders. They will grow and flower fine just left, but they look a bit untidy. Yours looks as if it's right at the front of the border, and in that situation I would cut it back pretty much to the ground, at least at the front edge.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
You can dig a shallow trench with a trowel .Lay each piece in it's own little trench with just the green showing, firm gently. Once settled it will shoot along the buried stem and you will have a good weed suppressant. Also works well with G Macrorhizzum.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Posts
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...