Hardy Geraniums Are Missing in Your Garden!

Whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned collector, there’s plenty to enjoy with perennial geraniums. Growing them is doubly interesting. On the one hand, they’re an excellent plant to discover for those who claim not to have a green thumb. And on the other, you can lose your soul discovering the hundreds of species and cultivars that are virtually non-existent on the market, but oh, so satisfying in the garden. It’s quite intriguing to discover that this near-perfect plant is not so present in most gardens.

Tons of Possibilities

With 352 species (some say over 400) distributed worldwide, hardy geraniums are a very large group. Geraniums can be found in just about every country in the world, including Greenland. Personally, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a species distribution map this filled!

It’s important to emphasize that the geraniums in question here are those of the Latin genus Geranium spp. The difference between so-called hardy geraniums and the famous annual geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) has already been discussed here. So, the geraniums we will discuss here are mostly perennials, meaning they sprout from the ground every spring.

Geraniums can be as little as 5 to 10 cm (2 or 3 inches) tall and wide in an alpine garden. They can also exceed a meter (3 feet) in diameter in their larger form. It’s therefore easy to find geraniums for rock gardens and flowerbeds. Some look good as single plants, others are better suited to growing in large groups, and still others are perfect for edging paths. You can also find the perfect geranium for a garden with a more naturalistic approach, or, on the other hand, the docile plant that works wonders in a more formal garden. And oh my, if you’re looking for a good groundcover geranium to plant at the base of a tree… yes, they exist! This speaks volumes about their versatility.

Pretty Leaves

The shape of geranium leaves varies greatly from one species to another, but it’s safe to say that the palmate foliage is just as interesting as the flowers. Appearing very early in the spring, it has the advantage of quickly filling out the brown and bare flowerbeds of the early season. It’s also a great idea to plant spring bulbs at the base of geraniums, as tulips and hyacinths emerge above the foliage. When the bulbs have finished flowering, the geranium foliage has developed and camouflages the yellowing leaves of the bulbs.

In some geraniums, such as the Dalmatian cranesbill (G. dalmaticum) or the large-rooted cranesbill (G. macrorrhizum), the foliage is fragrant. TheEndres cranesbill (G. endressii) has shiny leaves, and for a touch of gray, consider the ashy cranesbill (G. cinereum) or the Renard cranesbill (G. renardii). In some cases, the foliage of hardy geraniums takes on a beautiful bright red color (G. sanguineum) or purple in the fall (G. maculatum).

Generous Flowers

Even though geranium flowers aren’t as spectacular as those of hibiscus or daylilies, they have the distinct advantage of being numerous… and lasting for a long time! The geranium flower is a simple flower composed of five identical petals. Sometimes the stamens and pistil are frilled and add a little charm to the flower. Often the petals are veined with a darker or paler color, and rarely, geraniums with double flowers are found. Some geranium flowers have a center that is darker or paler in color. And in terms of color, the majority of geraniums bear flowers that play in shades of mauve. There are still beautiful white, light pink, or violet, almost black flowers.

Most geraniums display a beautiful, abundant bloom in June or July, depending on the variety. Afterwards, flowering continues, more sporadically, over several weeks.

Fluctuating Needs

Geraniums can be described as full-sun plants that thrive in rich, well-drained soil. However, most geraniums are quite flexible. Poorer, drier soil is no problem! In a slightly shaded location, they will still bloom (with less intensity, of course). Some geraniums will tolerate soggy soil, acidic soil, and locations affected by de-icing salts. These are impressive plants that thrive just about anywhere.

In the Garden

Most perennial geraniums have a bushy, usually rounded shape. This makes them very interesting plants to slip here and there, between various perennials. For my part, this is what I like about geraniums: they fill all the empty spaces in the flowerbeds. So, less weeding! There is an empty space between your beautiful pink daylily and the dark blue-flowered speedwell? Slip in a meadow cranesbill ‘Mrs. Kendall Clark’ (G. pratense ‘Mrs. Kendall Clark’) with beautiful pale blue flowers. Is something missing in front of your baptisia? Let’s add a bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum).

Small and medium-sized geraniums also look great alongside garden iris (I. x germanica) or Siberian irises (I. sibirica). Small geraniums offer beautiful contrasts alongside lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis) or lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina). Taller varieties are best displayed in front of large shrubs with purple foliage, such as smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria).

10 Hardy Geraniums Easy to Find on the Canadian Market

‘Ballerina’ Geranium (G. cinereum ‘ Ballerina ‘). Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4); Height: 15 cm (6 inches); Width: 15 cm (6 inches); Pink flowers in June and July. A very small geranium, very interesting in a border or in a rock garden. With its dark burgundy eye and pronounced veins on each petal, the flower is a real little gem!

‘Bevan’s Variety’ Geranium (G. macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’). Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); H.: 40 cm (16 inches); W.: 50 cm (20 inches); Magenta flowers in June and July. Very hardy plant with aromatic foliage that turns yellow and red in autumn. This variety has good drought tolerance. Plant in front of an astilboides (Astilboides tabularis) or next to a large hosta with golden foliage.

‘Biokovo’ Geranium (G. x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’). Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 20 cm (8 inches); Width: 40 cm (16 inches); Light pink flowers in June and July. I have a little crush on this one for two reasons. First, the pale pink flower is very pretty! Second, it is a fabulous ground cover capable of growing in shade in cool soil. The autumnal coloring of the foliage is also decorative. This geranium is a sterile variety, resulting from the cross between G. macrorrhizum and G. dalmaticum.

‘Brookside’ Geranium. Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); Height: 40 cm (16 inches); Width: 50 cm (20 inches); Blue-purple flowers from June to September. This is an improved version of the geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ which has the advantage of being more compact. Orange-red coloration of the foliage in autumn. This is a plant which likes to mingle with its neighbors.

‘Johnson’s Blue’ Geranium. Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 40 cm (16 inches); Width: 50 cm (20 inches); Purplish-blue flowers from June to September. This is an old variety that is still present on the market, as it is difficult to do better. It is a good filler plant to plant at the foot of clematis and beds of larkspur or foxgloves.

‘Kelly Anne’ Geranium (G. wallichianum ‘Kelly Anne’). Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); H.: 40 cm (16 inches); W.: 60 cm; Pink flowers from June to September. Beautiful variety known for its very prolonged flowering. Due to its good tolerance to heat and drought, it is a good plant to add to a clump or ground cover in an ornamental grass garden.

‘Max Frei’ Geranium (G. sanguineum ‘Max Frei’). Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); Height: 25 cm (10 inches); Width: 30 cm (12 inches); Purple flowers between June and September. This is a miniature version of the cranesbill with more purple flowers. A beautiful little border plant to place in front of perennials, such as speedwells, garden phlox (Phlox paniculata) or hardy sage (Salvia nemorosa). It also tends to reseed itself on occasion.

‘Patricia’ Geranium. Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 70 cm (27 inches); Width: 70 cm (27 inches); Purple flowers from June to September. This tall variety has beautiful dark purple flowers with black eyes. Plant alongside larkspur or variegated hostas.

‘Rozanne’ Geranium. Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 40 cm (16 inches); Width: 50 cm (20 inches); Purplish-blue flowers with a white eye from June to September. This is the geranium that tried to outdo ‘Johnson’s Blue’… and almost did it! This variety is said to flower non-stop, but my personal observations tend to cast doubt on this feat.

Bloody Cranesbill (G. sanguineum). Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); Height: 30 cm (12 inches); Width: 40 cm (16 inches); Magenta flowers in June and July. A beautiful, low-maintenance border or large clump plant. Everything about this plant is beautiful! The foliage turns bright red in the fall. It self-sows in some gardens, but it’s fairly easy to control. It’s also a plant that tolerates less-than-perfect growing conditions.

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Black Widow geranium (G. phaeum ‘Samobor’). Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); H.: 60 cm (24 inches); W.: 50 cm (20 inches); Purple flowers in July and August. Another of my personal favorites. These almost black flowers are original, as are the particular spots that adorn the leaves. This is a geranium very tolerant of difficult conditions. I grow it with columbines (Aquilegia sp.) and a light yellow-flowered foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora)

Silvery Cranesbill (G. argenteum). Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4); Height: 10 cm (4 inches); Width: 20 cm (8 inches); Light pink flowers in July. This is a very small geranium that is grown mainly in alpine gardens. Despite its name, the foliage has more gray highlights than anything else. It is a very docile plant that requires full sun to flower well.

‘Boom Chocolatta’ Geranium. Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 65 cm (25 inches); Width: 75 cm (30 inches); Purple flowers between June and August. Large, relatively new variety with beautiful bronze foliage in summer.

Armenian Geranium (G. psilostemon). Zone 5 (USDA Zone 4); Height: 80 cm (32 inches); Width: 60 cm (24 inches); Magenta flowers in July and August. A large variety with flowers marked by a darker eye. It fills the space at the base of large shrubs well.

Dalmatian Geranium (G. dalmaticum). Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 20 cm (8 inches); Width: 40 cm (16 inches); Pink flowers in June and July. A beautiful, unusual flower with long stamens that stands well above aromatic foliage.

Lancaster Cranesbill (G. sanguineum var. striatum). Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); Height: 35 cm (14 inches); Width: 45 cm (18 inches); Light pink flowers in July and August. This is a beautiful variant of the bloody cranesbill with a more delicate bloom. The plant is smaller than the species. It is also called G. sanguineum var. lancastriense.

‘Elizabeth Ann’ Geranium. Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); H.: 45 cm (18 inches); W.: 45 cm (18 inches); Purple flowers in June. This is another geranium with dark purple-brown foliage, but this one has proven itself well. The foliage offers a darker color in spring and fall.

Endres Geranium (Geranium endressii). Zone 4 (USDA Zone 3); H.: 45 cm (18 inches); W.: 45 cm (18 inches); Pinkish-mauve flowering in June and July. It stands out for its waffle-textured foliage with pointed lobes and its slightly sparser and airier flowering. It has a little something unique, compared to other geraniums.

Caucasian Cranesbill (G. renardii). Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); Height: 25 cm (10 inches); Width: 30 cm (12 inches); Light lilac flowers with dark purple veins in June. I love this geranium, especially for its beautiful graying, crinkled, soft foliage! Even without flowers, it is beautiful! It looks great when planted next to moss phlox (Phlox subulata) or any other plant with fine foliage.

White-flowered cranesbill (G. sanguineum ‘Album’) Zone 3 (USDA Zone 2); H.: 30 cm (12 inches); W.: 50 cm (20 inches); White flowers in May and June. A magnificent pure white bloom on a plant that thrives in full sun or light shade. A must-have for white-themed gardens.