Submitted by Mary Jo Buza
Don’t overlook geraniums – an easy care perennials! Hardy geraniums are robust and easy to grow plants that will reward you with unique foliage and lovely flowers. I consider them absolutely perfect plants for our Pacific Northwest gardens. To set the record straight, I am referring to hardy geraniums (Geranium spp.) and not the tender annuals also called zonal geraniums (Pelargoniums spp.).
What I like about hardy geraniums is that they are not fussy about soil types. They grow well in almost any kind of soil except boggy soil with standing water. They are versatile, with varieties that thrive in sun or part shade. While most hardy geraniums do prefer to grow in sun, G. macrorrhizum and G. phaeum both thrive in the part shade. G. macrorrhizum with the common name ‘Fragrant Cransbill’ has the added benefit of being deer resistant. Its leaves have a strong aromatic scent that deter deer. Other hardy geraniums are not so lucky – deer love them.
During the last ten years, none of my hardy geraniums have had any insect or disease problems, another reason I love these plants. Slugs are not a problem and neither is powdery mildew. Some varieties of hardy geranium have the habit of growing tall and leggy by midsummer, like ‘Johnson Blue’, ‘Patricia’, ‘Rozanne’, and ‘Ann Folkard.’ Gardeners who grow these taller varieties report that rather than staking them, they shear these tall plants to the ground in midsummer after they bloom. With a little extra water, the plants will grow new leaves and bloom again. To avoid this extra work, I prefer the short compact varieties such as ‘Ballerina’, ‘Purple Pillow’, and ‘John Elsley.’ This ground hugging varieties stay short and compact.
Hardy geraniums offer a variety of flower colors from white, pink, blue, purple, and magenta. A typical hardy geranium blooms for a month in late spring and early summer. When in bloom, they demand your attention. These plants show off with a concentrated burst of flowers. After flowering, the seed cases look alike like the beak of a crane, hence the common name cranesbill.
The unique foliage adds to the geraniums’ appeal. Geranium leaves are diverse in color, shape, texture, and size. The shade loving G. macrorrhizum for example, has leaves that are a deep green with a soft velvety texture that contrast nicely with the pinkish magenta flowers. G. sanguineum has a small, finely divided leaf that matches its short compact stature. Some geraniums display leaves that are mottled or streaked with different tones of green while others, like the G. phaeum ‘Sambor’, have a dark brown-variegated patch on its leaves.
Most local nurseries carry a good selection of hardy geraniums. Don’t let the intimidating and awkward names of these lovely plants discourage you. Hardy geraniums will enhance your garden no matter what you call them.
Author Mary Jo Buza, is a landscape designer she has over 20 years experience as a designer and teacher in the South Sound. For more information on a custom landscape design or consultation call 923-1733 or visit her website.
