Geranium X 'Jolly Bee' (Cranesbill)

This is a favorite flower of Brent Horvath, president of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Hebron, Ill.<br>
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<b>Why he loves it: </b>Long bloom, great color -- everybody loves blue.<br>
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<b>About 'Jolly Bee': </b>It's a hybrid perennial geranium with blue flowers. Late summer is a good time to plant this rugged, sprawling grower. It starts blooming in early summer (June) and goes through fall (October). It grows to 12 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Its foliage sports some marbling at all times, especially in the spring.<br>
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<b>What it likes: </b>'Jolly Bee' tolerates full sun, but prefers some shade in moist but well-drained soil.<br>
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<b>Tricks of the trade: </b>Flower color deepens in cool weather, so use it to "pop" mums, goldenrods and ornamental grasses.<br>
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<b>Best buds: </b>In my home garden, it bloomed with Astilbe ' <a class="taxInlineTagLink" id="PECLB001937" title="Maggie Daley" href="/topic/politics/maggie-daley-PECLB001937.topic">Maggie Daley</a>.' It's also nice with silver/blue-foliaged plants, such as Stachys byzantina (lamb's ear), pulmonarias, 'The Blues' little bluestem ornamental grass and yellows, such as Achillea 'Moonshine'.

( Intrinsicperennialgardens.com, Handout / July 29, 2007 )

This is a favorite flower of Brent Horvath, president of Intrinsic Perennial Gardens in Hebron, Ill.

Why he loves it: Long bloom, great color -- everybody loves blue.

About 'Jolly Bee': It's a hybrid perennial geranium with blue flowers. Late summer is a good time to plant this rugged, sprawling grower. It starts blooming in early summer (June) and goes through fall (October). It grows to 12 inches tall and 2 feet wide. Its foliage sports some marbling at all times, especially in the spring.

What it likes: 'Jolly Bee' tolerates full sun, but prefers some shade in moist but well-drained soil.

Tricks of the trade: Flower color deepens in cool weather, so use it to "pop" mums, goldenrods and ornamental grasses.

Best buds: In my home garden, it bloomed with Astilbe ' Maggie Daley.' It's also nice with silver/blue-foliaged plants, such as Stachys byzantina (lamb's ear), pulmonarias, 'The Blues' little bluestem ornamental grass and yellows, such as Achillea 'Moonshine'.

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