Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Best performance generally occurs in moist, organically rich soils in full sun. Plants may appreciate some part afternoon shade in hot summer climates such as the St. Louis area. Plants generally dislike hot and humid summers and are not recommended for growing south of USDA Zone 7.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Geranium x antipodeum is a hybrid geranium resulting from a cross between Geranium traversii (green foliage with light pink flowers) and Geranium sessiliflorum (bronze-purple foliage with white flowers). This hybrid typically grows to only 6” tall but spreads over time to 12-20” wide. Five-petaled flowers are typically pink. Rounded leaves (each 5to 1 1/2” diameter) are purplish-green.
Genus name comes from the Greek word geranos meaning crane in reference to the fruit which purportedly resembles the head and beak of a crane.
‘Chocolate Candy’ was first discovered among small seedlings growing at the base of a Geranium x antipodeum ‘Stanhope’ plant in Dalfsen, Netherlands in 1992. Its claim to fame is its unusual, rounded, scalloped, chocolate-purple leaves. Five-petaled, soft pink flowers with dark pink veins bloom from late spring to early summer in hot summer climates, but may sporadically rebloom from late summer to frost in cooler northern climates.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Group or mass in borders, rock gardens or cottage gardens. Ground cover.