Geranium nanum, information wanted

[maggiepie]

I obtained seed of G. nanum from SRGC this year.
Today I found the first flower on one of the seedlings, it is beautiful but I can't find out much information about it.
Birgitte Husted Bendtsen's book refers to it as being best grown in an alpine house.
Am hoping the seed donor might have some extra information on how to keep the plant alive over winter, I would hate to lose it.

The only pic I can find that looks like mine is on Magnar's site, so am wondering if he was the donor

[Maggi Young]

Magnar would certainly be a good person to advise you, Helen, whether or not he gave the seed!

[Ragged Robin]

What a lovely Geranium nanum, Helen, your photos show the new little plant so well and I love the close up 

[Lesley Cox]

It's very pretty.

[Sinchets]

Is this any good, Helen?
http://www.kadel.cz/flora/g/kvCard.asp-Id=13728.htm

[mark smyth]

Can I be the first to beg seeds?

[maggiepie]

Good idea Maggi, I thought he might be at his cabin.

Robin, I almost fell over when I saw a half opened bud, am so happy with it.

Lesley, it's lovely and even nicer that it will stay small.

Thanks Simon, I wonder how wet too wet is for some plants, I'm not sure whether to chance leaving it in the garden or potting it up for winter.
None of my erodiums croaked last winter, hopefully that is a good sign.

Mark, if I manage to get some seeds I will think of you.
At the moment I am being plagued by wee harlequin buds which have been attacking geraniums and aquilegias grrrrrr!!

[Sinchets]

It says it is Moroccan. How good is your snow cover in winter?

[maggiepie]

Simon, snowcover is normally around 3-5 feet where I have it planted.

[Sinchets]

I have so far (lots of touching wood) not had a problem with Moroccan mountain plants outside with snow cover during our coldest winter weather. If your snow is the powdery dry stuff like ours, it may be a much more stable, and less damp position, for the plant over winter than an alpine house.

[maggiepie]

Simon, we get all sorts of snow, dry, wet, freezing, the last few years we have had layers of snow/ice, but we do have very good drainage.
We usually have a bit of a thaw in January, then back to heaps more snow. We don't normally see the ground until early April.

[Lesley Cox]

I couldn't live in conditions like yours Helen.

[Magnar]

I have G. nanum in my scree bed where it grows happily and has no problems during winter. I do nothing extra to keep it, but of course the snow cover is of good help. And I also think good drainage is essential.

I have not donated seeds of it. The seeds are extremely difficult to collect. The plant flowers over a long time, and seeds ripen accordingly. And you know how Geranimuls spread their seeds.. you simply have to sit watchinlg over the plant to catch the seeds. But I can see seedlings coming up in the scree, so the plant obviously set seeds.

It is correct that the plant is North-African, origining from Atlas Mountains, Morocco.

[Magnar]

Simon, we get all sorts of snow, dry, wet, freezing, the last few years we have had layers of snow/ice, but we do have very good drainage.
We usually have a bit of a thaw in January, then back to heaps more snow. We don't normally see the ground until early April.

Sounds very much like our winters

[maggiepie]

Lesley, after spending most of my life in Australia, I am not sure which is worse, 7 months of summer or 7 months of winter.
I am enjoying being able to grow things I couldn't in Oz but also miss what I could grow there but it is amazing how many things can grow successfully in both places.
What has really surprised me most is the size that certain perennials can grow.
The autumn colours are an added bonus and it is very nice to have 4 distinct seasons.
The worst part of winter is knowing that if you lose power for an extended period you could actually freeze to death. ( not to mention the cost of heating).
Normally we get lots of sun in winter and it is amazing how warm it feels if you are outside in a sheltered position.
Forgot to mention, it is supposed to be the middle of summer here and we got down to +3C a few days ago, all my basil went black.

Magnar, thanks for your input, luckily I have a few of the seedlings although only one has flowered as yet, I think I might pot one and keep it in the unheated garage over winter.
It is such a lovely plant I would hate to lose it.