About Geranium psilostemon Ledeb.
Geranium psilostemon, commonly called Armenian cranesbill, is a hardy flowering herbaceous perennial plant species in the genus Geranium, family Geraniaceae. It is native to Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Russian Federation. It forms a large clump reaching 120 cm (47 in) tall, with bright reddish-purple flowers that have prominent dark centers. Its leaves are divided, and tint red in autumn. It is cultivated as a garden plant, and a number of different cultivars exist. G. psilostemon has the UK's hardest rating, and can survive temperatures as low as −20 °C (−4 °F). The Latin specific epithet psilostemon means "with smooth stamens". Like other geranium species, G. psilostemon is useful as underplanting for larger shrubs such as roses. It has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit, and its cultivar 'Ivan' has also received this award.
