Espresso Geranium Geranium Maculatum 1 Gal

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils, but tolerates poor soils. Will naturalize in optimum growing conditions. Deadheading is tedious and probably unnecessary since plants usually do not repeat bloom. Foliage may yellow in hot summers if soil is allowed to dry out. Foliage may decline after flowering in hot summer climates, at which point it may be lightly sheared back and shaped to revitalize. 

Geranium maculatum is a clump-forming, Missouri native, woodland perennial which typically occurs in woods, thickets and shaded roadside areas throughout the State. Forms a mound of foliage that grows to 24" tall and 18" wide. Features 1 1/4" diameter, pink to lilac, saucer-shaped, upward facing, 5-petaled flowers in spring for a period of 6-7 weeks. Deeply cut, palmately 5-lobed, dark green leaves (to 6" across). Flowers give way to distinctive, beaked seed capsules which give rise to the common name of crane's bill. The maturing seeds are eaten by birds.

‘Espresso’ is a chocolate-leaved variety. It typically forms a loose mound of foliage to 24” tall and 18” wide. Lavendar, saucer-shaped, upward-facing, 5-petaled flowers (1.5” diameter) appear in spring to early summer for 6-7 weeks. But it is the chocolate leaves that are the distinctive feature of this cultivar. Leaves (to 6”) are deeply cut and palmately 5-lobed and remain attractive in the garden after plants bloom as long as soil is kept moist.