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Vivace geranium macrorrhizum

GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
in Plants
These are great ground cover plants. Do I remove old leaves now or am I too late? The leaves are looking very tatty.
I'm in NW France

Posts

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    I never cut mine back, I think it doesn't like it as it keeps its leaves all year. I just remove individual leaves that look yellow or tatty at any time of year.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I don't know Vivace but those I grow tend to come into leaf and flower and the new hides the old. 


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    @nutcutlet - "vivace" means "hardy perennial" in French.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    @nutcutlet - "vivace" means "hardy perennial" in French.
    thanks BL, I thought it must be a cultivar I'd not come across


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    I cut or pull off tatty leaves as and when I see them but at this time of year they're all looking the worse for wear.  However, I'm not touching mine till I see a clear week forecast with no overnight frosts as the old leaves will protect the young ones coming up.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
    Thanks everyone, leave alone for now
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 4,254
    Busy-Lizzie said:
    @nutcutlet - "vivace" means "hardy perennial" in French.
    Actually, "plante vivace" could also translate as "herbaceous perennial" in English.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    my 'O' level French didn't teach me useful words like that, though I could write a very boring essay and decline lots of verbs


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,043
    Yes I know @Papi Jo, but herbaceous means it dies down completely over winter and in this case with this geranium it doesn't. It's hardy and perennial but not herbaceous.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Personally, I wait til it gets growing again in spring then cut the tatty leaves off
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