Hardy Geraniums
Learn Tips for Growing Hardy Geraniums
Some people might think that the term “hardy geraniums” applies to all geraniums because it describes their hardiness--meaning that they are an easy plant to take care of because they will grow well in a variety of conditions. However, hardy geraniums describe a certain family of geraniums and the title is meant to separate them from another family known as the pelargoniums. The pelargoniums include, among other types, the Scented Geranium, and the geraniums most often seen in hanging and clay pots--the ones with bright red, pink or white clusters of large flowers.
Many conservative gardeners will not give the pelargoniums the privilege of being called geraniums. So, hardy geraniums are also known as “true geraniums.” They are indeed hardy, growing in a variety of moisture and temperature conditions, but the flowers are small and range in color from purple to pinkish white. The flowers also have dark veins. The leaves are different from those of the pelargoniums, being rounded with five indented lobes. Hardy geraniums are perennials and widely cultivated in home gardens. Different species can grow anywhere from four inches to two feet high.
Hardy geraniums are known in some places, especially in England, as Cranesbill Geraniums. That’s because when the seed pods appear in the fall, they are said to look like the bill of a crane. Each pod has what look like five fingers, each with one seed. They propagate by explosion. Most hardy geraniums are short plants with thick growth that are often used for ground cover. They can grow in sunny spots and in ones with partial shade. They like soil that is slightly acidic with a pH of around 6.0. One-inch flowers bloom repeatedly from late spring through early fall.
The most popular of all the hardy geraniums is the Geranium endressii. Its growth is mound-like, quickly covers the ground, and is topped with pink and magenta colored flowers. It blooms early and the flowers last for several weeks. The most common variety is Wargrave Pink. Because it grows up to two feet high, the plant is often seen along garden borders.
Geranium sanguineum is also well-known. There are many varieties of this species and all of them are good ground-cover plants. Most are around eighteen inches high but “Splendens” grows to a height of around twenty-four inches. It’s pink with somewhat of a dark purple shading.
If you want a flowering plant for ground cover that is impossible to kill--try the Geranium macrorrhizum, another plant in the family of hardy geraniums. It is often used on borders. This is a perennial which is scented. A cultivar named Bevan’s Variety is one of the prettiest flowers and it has a magenta coloring. It is a geranium which has very rapid growth.