Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Boom Chocolatta Hardy Geranium: Dark Leaves, Blue-Purple Saucers
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Boom Chocolatta hardy geranium is a meadow cranesbill with something unusual for its kind: large, deeply cut leaves in a rich chocolate-bronze with a slight purple sheen. In early summer the dark mound is topped with a layer of blue-purple saucers, each finely veined and paler in the center.
The flower color lands right in lavender's range, while the broad, dark leaves give a heavier texture than lavender's slim silver ones. Together they make a planting that feels rich rather than busy.
Boom Chocolatta at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Geranium pratense 'Boom Chocolatta' |
| Flowers | Blue-purple saucers about 1.5 inches across |
| Foliage | Dark chocolate-bronze, deeply lobed, 4 to 6 inches across |
| Size | 24 to 26 inches tall, 28 to 30 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts early June, peaks late June, with some repeat bloom |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun to part shade |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; deer resistant |
Placing it near lavender
This is not a dry-soil plant like lavender. It wants regular moisture and decent drainage, so think of it as the bridge between your lavender bed and the rest of the border. Put the lavender on the high, dry side and Boom Chocolatta just beyond it, where the hose reaches and the soil holds a little more water.
Its main bloom lasts about three weeks in early summer, overlapping the start of lavender season. After that, the dark leaves carry the show. They are especially striking next to chartreuse or bright green foliage, and against the silver of lavender they read almost black. Give it room: at up to 30 inches wide it can lean over neighbors, and lavender does not like being shaded or crowded.
Lay out the transition from dry bed to moist border in the Companion Plant Planner.
Care through the season
- Spring: clear away old growth if you did not cut it back in fall.
- Early summer: enjoy the main flush. Bees work it steadily.
- After bloom: shear the plant back to refresh the dark foliage and coax out scattered rebloom.
- Hot spells: in strong afternoon sun it may flop or slow down; light afternoon shade helps in warmer sites.
- Fall: cut back old growth in late fall or early spring. It is very hardy in Michigan with no special protection.
Problems are uncommon. Watch for leaf spot when plants are crowded in long wet spells, and avoid waterlogged soil.
Ordering format
Boom Chocolatta is offered as a 72-cell plug tray, a good way to plant a generous drift or grow on your own pots. See the product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as the geraniums sold for window boxes?
No. Hardy geraniums, or cranesbills, are true perennials that come back every year. The window box plants usually called geraniums are a different, frost-tender group.
Does it bloom all summer?
The big show is in early summer. Shearing afterward brings scattered flowers later, but the dark foliage is what carries it the rest of the season.
Will rabbits eat it?
Deer and rabbits tend to ignore it.
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