''Geranium'' × ''magnificum'', the purple cranesbill, is a

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

of hardy flowering herbaceous

perennial plant A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

''Geranium'',

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Geraniaceae. The multiplication symbol × indicates that it is the result of hybridisation, in this case between ''

Geranium platypetalum ''Geranium platypetalum'', commonly called glandular crane's-bill or broad-petaled geranium, is a herbaceous plant species in the family Geraniaceae. It is native to Iran, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia (country), Georgia, and the Russia, R ...

'' and ''

Geranium ibericum ''Geranium ibericum'', commonly called Caucasian crane's-bill or (in North America) Iberian geranium or Caucasus geranium, is a herbaceous plant species in the family Geraniaceae. It is native to Western Asia, including Turkey and the Caucasus ...

''. Growing into a clump high and broad, it has the decorative, deeply-lobed leaves typical of the genus ''Geranium''. Violet-blue flowers with darker veins are borne relatively briefly in early summer. Extremely hardy, to below , it is suitable for cultivation throughout all

temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout ...

regions. This plant has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit.

References

magnificum Hybrid plants {{Geraniaceae-stub