This is a wonderful group
of plants, and not widely appreciated enough. They are quite unlike the
half-hardy frost tender plants that we normally call geraniums which are properly
called Pelargoniums in any case. They get their common name of "cranesbill"
from the shape of the seed heads after the petals have fallen off that are in
the shape of - a crane's bill, (and head).
Hardy Geraniums are the true
owners of the name. Unlike the half-hardy Pelargoniums, they come in
shades that also occupy the blue-end of the spectrum spreading towards pinks
and white but without the deep vivid reds.
The plants are tough and resilient, many are
herbaceous perennials that die down in winter and flower again year after year
with very little care and attention being necessary to keep their wonderful
display going. They grow from about 6" (15cm) to 4ft (120cm) tall depending
on variety.
They are at their best around mid June.
The rest of this article comes courtesy of
Paul Young of
Glendale Geraniums
to whom I am very grateful for allowing me to use
his words and fabulous pictures. There are plenty more (larger) pictures on
his site though unfortunately (for us at least) he doesn't sell these wonderful
plants but runs his site for the greater glory of the Hardy Geranium, and who
can blame him!
Geranium oxonianum
"Bressingham's Delight" |
Paul Young –
Glendale Geraniums web site
Hardy
Geraniums and I first became acquainted back in 1984. I had just bought my first
house and, as you do, started filling up the garden with every plant that I
could find at the local Notcutts Garden Centre. Of course, I knew nothing of
gardening then and choice was determined by nothing more than the picture on
the plant label which resulted in planting disasters on a very big scale, how
was I to know that Gentiana Verna wouldn't grow in my damp, shady alkaline
soil and that half a dozen Mimulus plants would go down without a fight
in my baked, sunny front border ?
The
one success was a plant that simply mushroomed into a dome of lush green leaf,
soon followed by a profusion of the most amazing rich blue saucer shaped flowers.
Geranium "Johnson's Blue", it was love at first sight ! A quick trip
back to the garden centre found more Geranium varieties and so the love affair
began to flourish.
Despite
moving house twice since, leaving vast numbers of plants behind on each occasion,
the current collection of Hardy Geraniums is now in excess of 200, and growing
!
Geranium sylvaticum "Mayflower" |
Geranium Nodosum
"Svelte Lilac" |
I'm
often asked why Hardy Geraniums. Well the quick answer is, easy to grow, easy
to propagate, good flowers, long season. There's also the fun of discovering
more varieties, stay with your big national Garden Centres and you'll encounter
Geranium "Johnson's Blue", Geranium endresii "Wargrave Pink" and one
or two other mass produced varieties but head off to any of the smaller Cottage
Garden Nurseries and you'll discover the true gems of the species, and there
are many of them !
Look
out for Geranium sylvaticum "Mayflower", as the name suggests, a May
flowering Geranium and most definitely one that no gardener should be without.
From a platform of stately and rich green foliage the plant produces clusters
of the most eye-catching mauve-blue flowers with a distinct white eye, one that
certainly stops the passers by !
Most
gardens have an awkward dry shady spot that simply defeats every effort to cultivate
it, often close to the base of large trees. Well don't despair because there
are Hardy Geraniums that will thrive there. Look out for any of the Geranium
phaeum varieties, all of which will flourish in the toughest of shady conditions
and all of which will produce an abundance of small inverted flowers ranging
from the pure white of Geranium phaeum album to the rich dark purple
of Geranium phaeum "Lily Lovell". A better solution still is to seek
out Geranium nodosum which produces a denser mat of glossy dark green
foliage supporting soft purple, upright and funnel shaped flowers.
Geranium phaeum Springtime
For
pure spectacular effect, look out for the better of the Geranium oxonianum
cultivars. Oxonianum is a generic name given to the prolific offspring
of parents
Geranium versicolor
and Geranium endresii and, believe
me, there are many of them. Most smaller nurseries will offer a range of
Geranium oxonianums with only the trained eye being able to determine the
slight variation in flower colour. All varieties will have a base flower colour
of very soft through to mid range pink and an intricate veining on the flowers
ranging from near white through to very dark purple, there are endless combinations.
If you
want to catch the eye, you'll find no better than Geranium oxonianum "Hollywood"
and Geranium oxonianum "Julie Brennan", both of which are big plants,
up to 4' tall and both of which produce the most striking combinations of flower
colouring.
If you
don't grow Hardy Geraniums, start doing so and surprise yourself. If you do
grow one or two of the more common varieties, check out some of their lesser
known comrades and prepare to be impressed.
If you
want further information on the species or want to exchange your own experiences,
you can contact me via my garden website where you can also check out some of
the spectacular varieties that dominate my garden.
