Hardy Geranium

Interesting information Dawn. I enjoy growing Geraniums but don't have many varieties. I find they grow too rampantly for my garden.
Ann Folcard you mentioned above grows huge and Geranium phaeum smothers everything around it. I am thinking of growing them in pots this year.
I will be looking at the site you mentioned, for more information about them, thanks ... added to my favs for safe keeping lol :)

Hi Hywel, he's happy to answer queries with no pressure to sell.

Thanks very much Dawn - that sounds terrific. I do love them, and was sad to leave behind my Rozanne when we moved. A friend gave me three seedlings of Ann Folkard saying that "they do spread", but I've no idea whether they are still alive (I can't get to my cold frame very easily right now!). I will definitely check out the website :)

I have ordered some Geraniums of Gary,I asked a question about the best ones to get and Steragram gave me his web site.Like you say Dawn I rang him up and he was most helpful.

We have been collecting HGs for many years they were our first plant passion, and we amassed an impressive collection, when we moved to a smaller garden we had to scale down unfortunately.........
We tend to buy from Dorset Perennials the plants are well grown and like Cranesbill Nurseries there is plenty of information given (although not such a huge choice as Cranesbill)
We still grow more than we should, but you just cannot beat them for flower power, just sent for Ann Folkard, again because after many years of flowering her head off she did just that! I know she spreads, but thats part of her charm (as you say if in the right place!)
Thanks for giving me yet another source Dawn...

I have a lot in the garden. Even the rampant ones have their place. They are so varied.

I've got about 25 different HGs at the moment. I find them so useful for underplanting and just so pretty. I've used the nursery you mention in the past I think, I've certainly browsed their website. I don't have Ann Folkard and I don't think I'll will if she spreads too much. But I do love the big tall clump forming ones like Mrs Kendal Clarke. Geranium magnificum is true to its name, but far too big for me. But its blue is fantastic. I didn't realise there were just 12 species, but there are so many different cultivars. I could get really obsessed. I have to control myself. Rozanne is a rampager. I am going to give her the Chelsea chop this year because the stems just get far too sprawly and hide everything around about. I love Patricia (similar colours to Ann Folkard)...that lipstick pink is gorgeous with the black eye. And I have one variety that really struggles, but its so pretty that I keep it and hope one day it will get itself going properly - Havana Blues. Its a bit like Rozanne and Buxton's variety, but the leaves are so pretty, and its much smaller than Rozanne. I do have one Cantabrigiense which is a great ground cover and I don't really mind how much it spreads. Its great for shade too. It's called Karmina and its a lovely lilac pink. You can shade loving ones and sun worshippers too. Far too many to choose from! :)

Added to faves for reference, with thanks!

Surely these rampant varieties can be controlled with the correct (less rich) compost ?

Thankyou Dawn, I too have added to my favs, I started growing them only about three years ago, anything that comes back year after year is good in my book and if it spreads that's even better.....

I just noticed that Cranesbill charge £12.50 for delivery under £100 after that its free. Dorset is free over £39. Quite a difference....that would buy you a couple more plants! And you know how I like the money to go on the plants! :)

Callie, I'm pleased you ordered, have they arrived yet?
Sheila, I hope your Ann Folkard seedlings are ok. The guide for a novice on Geraniums is good for me.
Dotty, I will look at Dorset Perennials, thanks. Sooo many different ones, aren't there, you'll have to do a blog of your favourites over the years.
Diane, it's the way they grow, some are rampant on my heavy clay, I've given them little pea stick wigwams to climb but they prefer to ramble.
Lin, I'm with you, plants that earn their keep, flower for ages and no trouble are the ones to have.
Karen, thanks for the info, you know your HG's :-). I darent start studying the sun loving ones too. I easily get obsessed.
As Rozanne was Chelsea's plant of the centenary (or something like that) i was slightly disappointed with her habit.
Yes, the postage charge is steep I agree but the ones I've ordered are 1.5 litre and Ive managed to get free postage, whoops, well my birthday is approaching!
They sell bare root plants later in spring with free postage.

This is a very good blog, helpful to beginners needing to plan new garden space with labour saving plants.
There is so much to do when it finally warms up, particularly for those who grow their own vegetables
for health reasons, as I did.

Really helpful, saved to look at again.

Hardy geraniums love our garden and would very happily take over and smother more delicate plants! It will be good to know of smaller varieties which have less impact.

Diane, it's so helpful getting hands on advice from members isn't it.
I have Geranium macrorrhizum Bevan's Variety and I find it will grow anywhere, a real must have.
Hi Wildrose, there are so many aren't there, the clump forming ones are good, aren't they.

I'm going to have a look at their site too Dawn, the perennial geraniums are such a good stalwart in your garden...I could do with a few more.
I'm very lucky in that Karen brought me Rozanne a few years ago, it is such a beauty, and has grown too large for its home, so I'll be moving it in a few weeks time. Also Ann Folkard which is my favourite, having such a brilliant magenta flower against those pretty leaves. Straggly growth though, so last year I trained it up and around a large log and it seemed very happy. The common pink one...can't remember it's name, is growing everywhere now, but a great filler for gaps and a nice round shape too.
Xx

The plants won't be ready till mid April Dawn,and the nursery is about half an hour from us,so hubbby is taking me to collect them,saving a bit on the postage.

Oh my goodness just checked my garden to find we have 65 Hardy Geraniums ....whoops!! I really cannot believe that, where are they all? still not as many as we had in the Midlands lol!!

Thanks Callie, I’ve not had a delivery date yet so I guess mine will be in a month or so, handy you’re close by.
Janey, your pink one is probably G Wargrave? I have this, quite big, round and small dark shiny leaves.
Oh Dotty, you have so many! If in doubt, plant a Geranium. Do you have favourites?

Lol Angela! You have a tardis garden!

Just had a look Dawn good website, I have psilostomen and sylvaticum album which are both good growers for me, but wouldn't mind a couple more they are lovely ?

Hi Daylily, I found the guide really good which you can have emailed to you. I asked him for shade lovers that will spread well (for my woodland) and he replied with Maculatum and Sylvaticum (both around 15” high) plus Cantabrigienses at 8” high then Nodasum and Macrorrhizum both for dry shade, really helpful. Funnily enough I’ve ordered S Album so I’m pleased to hear it’s a nice one.

What about G. Phaeum Dawn? Theres a white one as well as the dusky purple, and Margaret Wilson is beautiful with mottled green leaves and violet flowers. The foliage is semi evergreen and absolutely beautiful. I have all three kinds, so if you would like some, just let me ‘now. I split the Margaret Wilson this winter and the white one is easy to get a piece from for you. They all spread out very quickly.

Yes Dawn....it is Wargrave pink, and is very happy flowering in dry shade and looks beautiful with whites and purples...:))

That's good to know Janey,have ordered that for dry shade in my garden.

Mine had been a small clump from Mum's garden, 7 or 8 years ago Callie. It's such a trooper...it also grows well on the sunny side of my garden, but the flowers flag when it's too warm. They really sing in the shade...you'll love it!

That's a very useful blog... thank you.

TT - if in doubt, plant a Geranium ;-)

I wrote a blog today asking for suggestions for a problem area and TT suggested i look at this blog. Love the idea of hardy Geraniums, so after reading this i looked up the wedsite and then phoned him. SO helpful!!! Took my email address and said would put together a list of what should hopefully cope there. Told him about GOY and this blog and how lovely people are on here and he said would have a look ?. Thank you and what a great blog

Hi Jen
I’m pleased you found the blog useful. I haven’t spoken to Gary, we’ve just exchanged emails but I found him friendly and very helpful and knowledgeable. It looks like there’s a Geranium for every situation. :). Mine haven’t arrived yet, Gary said if would be May so not long to wait now.

Dawnsaunt, yes, he seems very nice. On his suggestion I have sent him photos of the said bed so hopefully he can come up with some suggestions. Found him also on Facebook and saw there that he was saying that due to the bad weather, he was late sending plants out. Hope you get yours soon. I missed your blog when you published. When cold weather I don't go on internet much as only place I can get connection is in our conservatory as Hub is in the workshop. I'm looking forward to see what he recommends.

I'm glad everyone is finding this blog. Have put it on my favourites. Well done Dawn .. this is very useful.

:-)