Geranium 'Raven'

This Geranium phaeum blooms first in May and then reblooms later in the summer, staying colorful all the way into August. The broad, flat blooms make an extremely impressive display when viewed head-on. A small nimbus of white circles the middle of the bloom, while the petals are a shiny near-black with hues of red, purple, and blue mixed in.

'Raven' is an easy and reliable choice for any garden. It is resistant to drought and the ravages of slugs and rabbits. The only fauna it attracts are bees and other pollinators (read "butterflies"). It swiftly grows to its mature height of 18 to 24 inches tall and wide. Fantastic for bedding, borders, patio, and containers in the South and Southwest, where many geraniums have short and unsatisfactory bloom seasons.

'Raven' displays a remarkable bloom time. Intensely colored 1-inch blooms of nearly-black purple with a white eye begin appearing on this graceful plant in early summer, and unlike most geraniums (which fizzle when the temperature climbs too high), keep coming until early fall. The reblooming display can stretch from May through until August.

This hardy geranium is very easy to grow: just plant it in average, well-drained soil and it does the rest. Space 18 inches apart. Give 'Raven' some shade in hot and dry climates.