Don't know about Lilac Ice but last year I bought Orion and was delighted with it. Such a lovely bright blue, very good-sized flowers and went on for a good while. Can't say exactly how long but it was certainly one of my best buys last year.

I'm looking for something long flowering but not blue.......and one that dies back to the ground each year so I can plant bulbs around it.

I read your profile with interest. I have one patch of ground elder to get rid of too. I may try the same trick. Although I already have a huge patch of macrorrhizum in the same border (it hasn't stopped the brambles...... yet.)

But I have to say I don't agree with you on the scent of the macrorrhizum foliage, but then I love the scent of Choysia leaves and my wife hates it. Do you have White Ness ? Macrorrhizum but more subtle is how I'd describe it.

I do like Geraniums though (especially the hard working ones.) And you can get basal cuttings going so easily it doesn't take long before you are giving them away.

Mavis Simpson ( pink )and Patricia ( carmine pink ) are two that have long flowering periods too.

I don't have White Ness but I do know it. I have Boikovo which is a bit similar and also Cambridge which are also lower growing macrorrhizum ones.

Spessart is in flower now ( pale pinky white) and is perhaps the prettiest of the more vigorous macrorrhizum group. Evergreen too.

Good hunting.

I've just seen your question about geraniums. I've tried to find Lilac Ice without success as I have Rozanne. One you might like is Max Frei sanguineum type. I've had it for years on the rockery and its really pretty and reliable.Small flower and low growing.
Linmar

Strange timing Linmar as I have recently just bought G. Sanguineum 'Vision Violet' , G. Sanguineum 'Ankums Pride' and G. Sanguineum 'Elke'. (Among a few other Geraniums.)

I thought there would be more choice at the Hampton Court show, but I didn't really find any to take my fancy.

Rozanne is great as it dies right back so I can put it where the bulbs are and then it grows to cover them in the summer.

Lilac Ice is out there and I will find it, but it's not on ebay now either.

Smorgie,
I have only just seen yours (by chance)re Sanguineums. Just in time as I'm planning to buy more. I shall look those three up 'Vision Violet' sounds lovely. I see Inverglen r/mds Orion & that one was already on my list.
I'm waiting for a Cryptomeria Japonica Globosa Nana to be removed from rockery its grown v.big & loads of dead wood inthe middle. Choiysa to be cut right back; then I'll have loads of space to fill.
If you do trace Lilac Ice plse let me know,
Linmar

Hi Smorgie,

I've just bought 'Lilac Ice' today. Mine came from the Garden Group - that used to be Wyevale. If you've got a branch near you, you could try there. It's new in.

By the way, I bought another 'Rozanne' sport at Hampton Court this year, called 'Azure Rush'. That's stocked at Hayloft Plants.

I hope that helps.

Great, thanks for the info. I think there's a Wyevale about 15 miles away.

You're welcome - I'd phone them first, in case they run out!

I saw Lilac Ice today at my local Wyevale centre, and it looks stunning! I recently put Rozanne in a big tub with some other plants and love the way it cascades over the side. I'd grown Rozanne before when I lived in Maine and it's one of my favourite ever perennials. I loved the colour of Lilac Ice, it really caught my eye, and if it's anything like as good as Rozanne I might be going back to get one!

You'd better be quick then - our GC ran out in three days. :-O