White Flower Farm
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety'
Best low-maintenance ground cover for gardeners managing dry, shaded areas.
Geranium macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety', or Bigroot Geranium, is a resilient perennial ground cover that spreads quickly yet non-invasively. Its dense foliage effectively suppresses weeds and tolerates dry shade conditions. This variety produces soft pink blooms in late spring and early summer, and its aromatic leaves provide attractive red and orange fall color. Recognized with the RHS Award of Garden Merit, this deer-resistant plant is a low-maintenance choice for reliable landscape coverage.
$19.00
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
832
/ 2996
#832 in Landscaping & Garden Plants
Price vs Category Average
-31%
Below average
Lifespan
Perennial
/ Perennial
Who it's for
- Gardeners managing challenging, low-maintenance landscape sites
- Busy homeowners seeking effective, weed-suppressing groundcover
- Sensory garden enthusiasts who appreciate seasonal foliage interest
Who should skip it
- Gardeners maintaining delicate, slow-growing perennial collections
- Designers prioritizing high-impact, vibrant floral displays
- Minimalists wanting a plant that requires zero seasonal maintenance
Performance breakdown
Weed suppression
Dense foliage creates a living mulch that effectively chokes out weeds.
Shade adaptability
Thrives in challenging dry shade where many other perennials struggle.
Maintenance requirement
A true set-it-and-forget-it plant for busy landscape gardeners.
Pest resistance
Reliably deters deer, keeping your garden safe from common browsing.
Growth vigor
Spreads quickly to establish full coverage without becoming invasive.
Seasonal interest
Provides multi-season appeal through spring blooms and vibrant autumn foliage.
Key Specs
Lifespan
Perennial
Mature Height
12 inches
Mature Spread
18 inches
Bloom Time
May to June
USDA Hardiness Zones
4 to 10
Preferred Soil pH
6.0 to 7.0
Water Needs
Medium
Growth Habit
Groundcover
Features
- Excellent ground cover spreads quickly.
- Dense foliage suppresses weeds.
- Tolerates dry shade conditions.
- Aromatic leaves offer fall color.
- Deer resistant and low maintenance.
- Blooms in late spring/early summer.
- Winner of RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- Suitable for container gardening.
What customers say
Customers highly value this perennial for its exceptional hardiness and reliability, justifying its price point. The core praise focuses on its vigorous nature and quick establishment, making it an excellent, low-maintenance groundcover. Gardeners appreciate its robust performance, noting its resistance to deer and rabbits, which ensures undisturbed growth. Although some mention the initial starter size, the plant consistently performs beautifully in later seasons. The overall satisfaction stems from its dependable, long-term value, combining attractive, fragrant foliage with minimal care requirements. It is viewed as a trustworthy, high-performing garden staple that delivers consistent results.
Know before you buy
This geranium is an excellent weed suppressor because it forms a dense, mat-like carpet of foliage. Once established, the thick growth shades the soil, making it very difficult for opportunistic weeds to take root.
Yes, it is highly adaptable and specifically noted for its ability to thrive in dry shade. While it can handle full sun, it is a reliable choice for those difficult, shaded areas under trees or along north-facing walls.
Yes, it is considered deer-resistant. The foliage is aromatic, which typically discourages deer and other browsing animals from grazing on it.
Absolutely. While it is a popular choice for ground cover, it performs well in containers. Just ensure the pot has good drainage to keep the soil from becoming waterlogged.
Since this variety has a mature spread of about 18 inches, you should space them roughly 12 to 15 inches apart. This allows them to fill in the gaps relatively quickly to create a solid, uniform carpet.
It is a very low-maintenance plant. After the late spring and early summer blooms fade, you can simply leave the foliage as is, as it remains attractive through the season and provides nice red and orange color in the fall.
Still have a question?
Ask Hayley anything about this product before you decide.
Ready to buy?
$19