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New plants: Geranium ‘Intense’

Do we really need another hardy geranium? For this eye-popping new shade, yes we do

Hardy geraniums are the most popular

perennials in the UK. It’s easy to see why – they’re tough, versatile and easy to grow, with many flowering for months on end. With so many superb varieties already available, the competition faced by a newcomer to rise to the top is intense. But ‘Intense’ has what it takes – and stood out from the crowd enough to become a finalist in the 2022 Chelsea Flower Show Plant of The Year competition.


What’s so special about Geranium ‘Intense’?

Geranium × cantabrigiense is an aromatic, semi-evergreen groundcover cranesbill flowering from May to July. The five-petalled flowers come in a range of colours from reddish pink to white, with up to ten in each cluster, held just above the neatly lobed foliage.
 
‘Intense’ takes us a step forward with its glowing magenta pink flowers. During the Chelsea Flower Show Plant of The Year competition, Roy Rotteveel of Gebrüder Rotteveel, who developed the plant, highlighted its special qualities.
 
“Non-fading, vivid pink blooms and extreme flower power give rise to the name of this versatile geranium,” he said. “Fragrant, semi-evergreen foliage turns red in autumn as an added bonus. Mass planting makes for excellent ground cover, but it is also ideal for mixed borders and patio or balcony pots.”


© Plantipp BV®
Where did Geranium ‘Intense’ come from?

Roy Rotteveel selected Geranium ‘Intense’ in 2015 from a batch of

seedlings of G. x cantabridgense growing in a field on his nursery in Noordwijk, The Netherlands.
 
It was tested for some years at the nursery and was compared with the old favourites G. x cantabridgense ‘Cambridge’ and ‘Karmina’. ‘Intense’ has flowers in a darker, brighter pink than either.

© Plantipp BV®
© Plantipp BV®
Growing Geranium ‘Intense’

Roy Rotteveel describes Geranium ‘Intense’ as “an easy to grow

perennial hardy down to -30C. Plant in full sun or semi-shade,” he says, “in a moist but free-draining soil. Trim flowers back after the first main flush for repeat summer colour.”


Where can I buy Geranium ‘Intense’?

Click the suppliers link on this page in the RHS online Plant Finder for a list of nurseries offering Geranium ‘Intense’.


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