Perennial of the Geraniaceae family, Geranium x cantabrigiense is a natural hybrid between G. macrorrhizum and G. dalmaticum, discovered on the limestone massif of Biokovo, in Croatian Dalmatia. The 'Biokovo' cultivar was introduced into cultivation from plants collected at this site, and its name directly pays tribute to it.
The plant forms a dense and regular, semi-evergreen carpet, reaching 20 to 30 cm in height, from superficial rhizomes that gradually spread. The foliage is palmately lobed, bright green, aromatic when crushed, and takes on reddish hues in the fall. The floral stems are thin, reddish, well erect above the carpet of leaves.
The flowers, about 2.5 to 3 cm in diameter, are pure white to very slightly pink, with discreet pink veins converging towards the center. The stamens with bright pink-red filaments and the prominently protruding styles constitute a particularly elegant detail, visible on the open flowers. The flower buds are pink, creating a lovely contrast with the open flowers.
Undemanding, it adapts to well-drained soils, even poor and dry, in full sun or partial shade. Its ability to quickly cover the ground, including under trees, makes it a reliable ground cover for rock gardens, borders, and slopes.