I love geraniums too! Last year I bought Ballerina and Johnson Blue, and this year I added a double variety! I’ll post pics later!

Ahhh, always need more of these beauties! Let's see now ... 'Azure Rush', 'Elke', 'Jolly Jewel Red', 'Jolly Jewel Violet' (lost this one), 'Max Frei' (perfect mounding things), 'New Hampshire Purple' and Sanguineum var. striatum. Had 'Ballerina' years ago, a great little plant!

Ah, I do keep coming across the Jolly Jewel ones but have not tried any yet. I only have a handful of sanguineums (although plenty of volunteers) - same with the oxonianums. I have quite a few of the African and Canary islanders (incanum, 'Silver Cloak, palmatum, maderense, robustum but only have one (struggling) maculatum. I have a special love for psilostemon...or any of the hybrids such as 'Patricia' and 'Salome' and also the little cinereums...truly, there is a geranium for every aspect in every garden. I don't really care for macrorrhizum but have them anyway because they are such good doers. I am often a bit confused between magnificum and himalayense (I have Hexham Violet, Rosemoor and Blue Blood and not entirely sure which is which (iykwim) because the labels vanished long ago. There are a couple I binned (Crystal Lake, for example) because they were underwhelming. My local botanic gardens holds the national collection and I have a nursery friend who specialises in them (Plantsman's Preference) so it is very easy to add a couple every few months. I am also building up a little collection of erodiums but sadly, I lost just about all the pelargoniums, including, to my horror, the gorgeous species such as sidoides and ardens. Glad to see they are not an ignored genus in the US.

"There are a couple I binned (Crystal Lake, for example) because they were underwhelming."

I tossed "Samobor" because of poor performance. I could have overlooked the paucity of blooms, but the plant had a sparse growth habit so wasn't even useful as a filler plant.

Earlier in my gardening career - and when I had a garden large enough to accommodate them - I had a passion for hardy geraniums. This was no doubt encouraged by my proximity to the world famous Heronswood Nursery which in their heyday had 6 pages of them in their catalogue or some 60+ different varieties. I sampled quite a few off their list :-))

Some were ust too weedy looking for my taste or spread/reseeded too vigorously. And a lot were pink, a color to which I developed a well known aversion to. Those that stick in my mind as favorites include pretty much any of the sanguineums and cinerias, Biokova, Samobor (wonderful in a shade garden!!), G. pratense Victor Reiter, Ann Folkard and Lawrence Flatman.

I only grow a few of these now - Lawrence (likely my favorite geranium ever), Max Frie, striatum and of course, Rosanne.

Geraniums are one of those plants that I always wonder why I don't have more of them. I have put them in customers gardens and always like them there. I have used Biokovo and Karmina as I find them easy, hardy, floriferous and low maintenance. Interestingly, in my own garden, I lost Biokovo and Karmina has struggled (patch dying out after bloom two years ago) but it appears to be making a comeback.

Samobor didn't make it. But I can't blame the plant lol as it was likely more my fault.

Just recently I posted on a thread about a geranium I got at a plant swap years ago that I love. It has spread nicely but not aggressively, the foliage is just wonderful, so it's a lovely groundcover even out of bloom, it is in a garden that has been horribly neglected - no supplemental water ever - and is thriving. I don't think I would have ever chosen this color if I purchased it, but I've come around to liking it's vivid, stand-out blooms.

i should have waited another week to take the photo to get peak bloom but here she is!

:)

Dee

Oh! Edited to add that I also love geranium macrorrhizum. What a great, tough little plant. I love to put this in dry shade to brighten it up - even when not in bloom!

Count me in for a geranium lover also.

Having Rozanne as my favorite...the second bloom is the best for me after it has cooled off some. Also johnson blue, max frie, visions pink and a tiny liitle blooming noid that is hot fushia. My least favorite is Bill Wallis...cant get rid of it as it reseeds everywhere!

visions pink

max frie..happily reseeds all over

Bill wallis with lupine-not a good pic

I am just starting my Geranium Journey! Starting with a few Rozanne’s and a maculatum not sure of type.

I’m afraid my “ difficult places” may be TOO difficult even for these- planted 5 or so where I need groundcover on dry slope but am also dotting a few in other possibly more hospitable places to see where they’ll grow. My problem in some of the areas I need to plant, I’m really not sure which plant(s) will flourish, despite some gaining some experience over a lifetime, and more research, because of rocky soil, drought and the infamous part sun/ shade, yet to plant an area and gain efficiency of initial mulching and watering and some weeding , it’s best to plant out a whole area. Then, if I have a lot of one thing and calculated wrong, everything might die!

I don't mind any of the weedier, seedier geraniums (phaeum, pyrenaicum, robertium, nodosum) as long as they are white, but am partial to pink with silvery leaves (so any of the cinereum, incanum, renardii) although I also like pinks if they are fairly violent such as Red Admiral or Orkney Cherry.

O Marnie, I have never managed to buy more than one of any new plant...but eventually, they will seed about, or you can divide them and then you can be more designerly, planting in drifts, with repetitions and themes and such. Plants are always quite quick to register their health and compatibility. I have killed an embarrassingly large number of plants but geraniums have always been more inclined to survive my untender care (although the bare-root Giuseppe ones I ordered in autumn didn't survive this winter and Mavis Simpson and the other riversleanum, as well as maculatum are always a bit iffy).

'Max Frei' (perfect mounding things)

Agree, agree @FrozeBudd_z3/4. We have 3 MF as part of a border and each off season I contemplate replacing them with something 'sexier' and then each June I always am glad I have kept them. Here is one of them today:

max frie..happily reseeds all over

@GardenHo_MI_Z5, I know this happens but it seems just for others as I have not seen any seed babies for our 3.

Hmmm, I'm wondering now if the wonderful ones I mentioned above, gotten at a plant swap, are Max Frie. They seem to be the same as the ones GardenHo and rouge posted. I don't know if mine reseed but the clump has certainly grown over the last 15 years. I love them!

GardenHo that Visions Pink is lovely. What a wonderful soft shade of pink!

Marmiegard, try the macrorrhizum. I have it planted in dry shade (fairly decent soil but under trees and shrubs and no supplemental water and complete shade) and it's doing quite well. A bit slow to spread but it looks great and that's with pretty much total neglect. I just planted some in an area that is shady in the morning, hot sun in the late afternoon, and shallow, rocky, poor soil, and I'm hoping for similar results. This second area does get supplemental water as it's a brand new bed so hoping that helps make up for the poorer soil till it gets better.

:)

Dee

Mmm, Max Frie - not sure if I have ever had a named sanguineum...although they are the toughest, most resilient geraniums of the lot, I think. While they never seed around like nodosum or pratense, (that I have noticed) they are the great survivors for sure...even neglected in pots, they simply retreat into dormancy, ready for another go-round when the negligent gardener remembers their watering duties or weather proves more suitable.

diggerdee, I think I was trying to focus on the macrorrhizums after reading on the forums here, but a lot of the plant information online tends to jumble together different species or sometimes by the time I found an online source, there would be just named cultivars and they did not put the genus- species names. And so many places were sold out of anything geranium.
So I ended up with Rozanne, but maybe need to go back to searches for one of the toughest macrorrhizum types.

Do you have one or 2 varieties that you think are available? Then for fall and/or next spring I could be ready if I find them online by the correct naming.

I do love flowers of all types, but also greenery, and since I have a number tough areas that need groundcover and soil stabilization I am fine with some “ quieter” varieties— survival is what’s key! Does not have to be a monoculture, but for some areas, groupings or swaths look good, hence would try to establish several at once.

I have other areas that are amenable to some gradual soil improvement and more supplemental watering, and some with more sun, so as I learn more I can make use of multiple types of geraniums as well as the various plants I have some experience with.

Marmiegard I have only used the straight-up macrorrhizum, but here is a link to Bluestone Perennials. They have a few available to start with.

I used to use Bluestone all the time but haven't in the past few years - a combination of having a more established garden and their prices going way up. However, I still think they are a good reliable online nursery.

Good luck on your geranium journey!

:)

Dee

rosaprimula, my two favorite genera are Dianthus and Geranium. As I can see from posts, I’m one of many geranium lovers. I found a website about a British couple who has grown hundreds of varities and was jealous of you all in England. You have so many varieties available to you that we’ll never see. I’m expanding into as many as I can!

I’ve got macro, sanguineum, phaeum, wlassovianum, Rozanne. Of the ones I have, I must admit a love for standard ol’ macro. So dependable, so tough, so beautiful. I’ve posted this recently, but I love love love my hostas with them.

Also, they fill in dry shade better than anything else available to me.

I love phaem. So far Samobar is happy and I look forward to dividing it probably next year. Interesting that it hasn’t thrived for some. Hope mine hangs in there. That one was hard to find!

Vision Light Pink sanguineum I can grow from seed and appreciate the lighter pink seeds. One of my VLP seeds packets grew into what looks exactly like Biokovo. Because the developing leaves were clearly macro-ish and not sanguineum, I got my money back for the packet, but if I had known how great this Biokovo-ish one is, I should have never asked for it back.

But, so far the one I am most excited about is wlassovianum. The fall color is fantastic!

I will gladly increase my geranium stash when the chance arises! I’m jealous of you, rosaprimula!

A question for you all: Compare Rozanne and Johnson’s Blue. Which do you prefer and why?

For me Johnson blue boomed all at once and had a big visual impact for a shorter time. it bloomed earlier and once. it might have has a bloom off and on later but i dont remember that it did.

i don’t think Rozanne is Gods gift to gardeners. It has shortcomings. ive lost it three times. it is very slow to get started.. theres a period where it looks quite good then a mess. And it takes awhile for it io recover from a haircut. i dont think the color is the easiest to work with.

i can be cynical person who enjoys

pointing out an icon’s flaws. Am i doing that to beloved Rozanne?

i have grown about 8 or 10 other geraniums and none bloom as long as Rozanne. She may score high when compared to her peers but outside that group she no longer takes away my breath.

and yes i will try her again (but not at &20 a pot)

Dee, i think yor geranium may be New Hampshire Purple. it grows well when happy and is good swap material

As far as i know there's only only one US with a wide grower with a big election of geraniums, Geraniaceae,com. in California. I ordered 2 dozen from them over 2 years but did not have a stellar success rate which iI put down to our zonal and climate differences. I think the real problem was keeping track of small plants scattered around a big garden and giving them proper care. i had better luck growing them on a bit and then planting them out.

With today’s prices it would be worth trying again. Her plants are still $8 and are well grown and well packed. Besides, shes a private grower and deserves support.

I use macrorrhizum extensively. I started with the magenta species, undoubtably a donation at a plant swap.. I started to populate a hillside with it. I had to give up gardening there and the buckthorn and weeds quickly took over. Now I had a good number of the magenta so I just divided over a few seasons and then its reproductive nature took over. No fertilizer, no water.. I have a photo somewhere....it is not a sexy planting and it wasn't meant to be. It was meant to suppress weeds though not t much can suppress buckthorn.

I got tired of all magenta and started plugging in some doronicum ssp. which is another happy sturdy colonizer. Now there's magenta with increasing spots of intense yellow. When I have the energy to climb the hill I pull out some g.macrorrhizum "Spessart" from another place and stick those in.spaces.

Not sure that particular plant improves the look but frankly who cares if it's doing the job?

If one is developing a new area of garden the macros are great "placeholders" until the other plants are mature or the gardener has decided on their plan. They need little water, do well with sun or shade, suppress weeds. If you don't want a magenta 'place holder' use g, macro "spessart" which is white with a pink calyx. It reads close enough to white to not mess up a color scheme too badly.

https://www.plant-world-seeds.com/store/search_for_item?query=geranium

Geraniums are not difficult to grow from seed. I just sow in autumn and stratify the seeds over winter in the back garden. If I am being a bit more careful (because I have only a few, spendy seeds), I will stratify in the fridge for 12 weeks or so. Most of these will germinate in the first spring, grow away over summer ready for placing in their final growing space in autumn. They make a lush plant by the second season. They are rarely as long-blooming as sterile hybrids, (although they can be quite as showy and floriferous (maderense, for those in warmer zones, soboliferum, for hardier needs). I have grown lots from seed and have saved seed from my own plants (paper bag method).

I agree, Marie - our independent nurseries need all our support. I have just received the most magnificent collection of plants, from a small, 2 person nursery from round Floral's way (Dorset Perennials). 9 lovely plants for £55 (dunno what that is in $) including 2 nepetas, 2 geraniums, oreganum, hordeum jubata, 'Pen's Blue eryngium, oreganum 'Rosenkuppel (for the bees) and a fantastic sanguisorba 'Arnhelm'. After the miserable experience earlier in the year (where I had to return a dismal collection of rubbish), today's delivery is fabulous.

Thank you so much for the links and further descriptions.

I can see I was definitely confused about some of them. I’m worried that I’ve now put the Rozanne’s where I should have put species macrorrhizims now that I know which ones they are! And used Rozanne in higher- visibility mixed perennial spots.

The “ good” news is that I have so many places I could use them , I’ll have more opportunities!

Deanna, I love your photos! I have deer, so have to think about that. Most of my hostas are in containers slightly protected, though I do tempt fate with a few our, and I spray them, but some recently got chomped.

Currently I am despondent because deer ate ( & maybe spit out) my coneflowers and rudbeckia. I know that can happen, but I gardened with heavy deer pressure for many years at previous home, where my coneflowers never were touched, then moved just a few miles away to different neighborhood, counting on these type plants to be a reliable and easy to propagate ( naive I know), but these deer are not cooperating.

iaceaeMy favorite is g, oxonianum A.T.Johnson (below) and its silvery pink flowers. It has a gently spreading form.

Geranium Macrorrhizum Cham Ce is a nice addition to the groundcovers. If you look at the Geraniceae.com website I suggested there are about 10 macrorrhizum listed

photo coming

Marie Tulin, sure enough! That may be an actual source nursery I can use , but also good reference for named varieties / features I can keep a lookout for elsewhere.

marmie, the owner Robin is very helpful about answering questions and inquiries

Last night i found Digging Dog nursery carries a wide selection of hardy geraniums and might be a good resource

Robin of Geraninacea wrote a book.which is on her website

Gardenweb

I had a nice long reply typed up, hit a weird key and a new GW page appeared, all lost. Had no time to redo till now. You’d think I’d know by now to always type out ahead of time…

Marie, your comments were welcome and I agree. I just wondered if it was my Rozanne that seemed less than amazing. I agree about the pruning, etc, and especially the color. I’ve realizes that for some reason her color neither wows on its own or really quite highlights the plants around her. It’s just there, and for a long time. I could see it en masse where nothing else was around, but amongst other things I’d rather have something different. I was hoping Johnson’s Blue was better color-wise. As for pruning, she just seems on the sparse side anyway. I’m used the other Geraniums whose foliage has a lushness. I actually am really loving “zen” plants with a sparseness to them, but Rozanne always looks like she’s trying to hard and not quite making it. The long bloom time is not enough of a plus for me.

I would love to hear more detailed thoughts on macrorrhizum varieties. So many people are tired of this plant, but it’s a fave. I love the carpet of foliage. I have a friend who says the smell of leaves is her favorite thing in the garden, more than any other plant, and we live in the Land of Lilacs! Planted it last year in a troublesome dry shade area and I’m so excited to see if fill in.

Rosaprimula, thanks for the website. I’ll place an order for this winter’s sowing.

Marmie, some years I have deer and some year’s I don’t. They seem to prefer visiting more often in fall when they can eat as many buds off my young azaleas as possible. I have yet to see Gibraltar bloom anywhere except the lower branches. I had one year where all hostas became celery sticks. Deer are overpopulated now so I do need to do some prep work. As for coneflowers, etc., are you sure it was deer? Something eats just the bud stalks off my Campanula persicifolias. Could be turkeys, rabbits, or even geese. This week I woke up for the first time ever to a sweet family of geese in the yard with fuzzy babies. When they saw me they hurried down a spot where the slope is not as steep to the water. I’m starting to think they might enjoy my campanulas!

Marie, did you notice if the geraniums from Geraniceae.com that you potted up did better and weren’t lost. If they still disappeared, nI’m wondering if overwintering them in the garage for one winter might help them get used to our climate? I’ve never tried it for that purpose, but I’m intrigued as to if it could help them acclimate to our climate.

And, one last question for all: this grew from a Geranium sanguineum ‘Vision Light Pink’ seed, which I mentioned earlier. It is NOT sanguineum. Any thoughts based on leaf shape on what species it is? Honestly, I’m really only familiar with macro and sanguineum leaves.

Marie, thank you! I think you may be right about mine being New Hampshire Purple!

:)

Dee

mmm, looks a lot like geranium x cantabridgiense 'St. Ola' or similar. I know cantabridgiense has macrorrhizum as one of the parents. There are a number of named hybrids of this cross (it was made at my local botanics).

A geranium I grew and loved in past gardens was 'Phillipe Vapelle" which is a renardii platypetalum hybrid. The felty foliage was its best attribute in my opinion, but the flowers were lovely also. Sadly I never see it offered anymore.

Anyone writing nice long replies, first do so using Microsoft Notepad, then copy and paste here, will save the frustration of having your time, energy and thoughts all disappear!

Ill see if i can find it somewhere on my phone !frozebud.

iithink ill have to overcome my resentment sbout an extra step if i dont want my tomes of wisdom erased ny an errant keystroke

time was only knights were errant…..

that noid geranium does have a strong wiff of maccrorizum about it

i thought the flowers looked like ”spessart”

I used to grow Johnson's blue but it eventually died out. Here are two pictures of it paired with Dianthus Rose de Mai

https://web.archive.org/web/20161116061415/http://a2zmom.com/garden/2005/june/june16d.jpg

https://web.archive.org/web/20160413060758/http://a2zmom.com/garden/2007/june/june3h.jpg

They eventuakky both disappeared, I am now growing Rozanne but deer ate it a week ago! (I didn't think they munched on geraniums). It is already bouncing back. Years ago, I planted Patricia which blooms all summer. I adore it. Here's a current picture.of it just starting to bloom along with a salvia cross.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7CCBfmq5qQvSofo77

This is the hillside of maccrorhizum and doronicum which blooms a little later and longer than the geranium. My comments about the process are in one of posts above. If I get tired of the monoculture and monocolor I'll think about what I can stick in . When I planted the doronicum I just pulled out handfulls of the geraniums to make room (for the daisies. when I was transplanting the geraniums I used two methods. In a larger empty space I threw down large pieces of the geranium and put a shovel full of dirt on it. I did not dig hole. I just watered the entire area maybe once or twice that summer.

The hillside has loose soil. With my hands I dug out holes big enough for the roots then just put the geranium divisions in. The the macro. you don't need big divisions.

no fertilizer no nothing. pulled the soil back over the transplant and forgot about it. I thinhe hk I was able to 'borrow' the hose and water from the adjacent church to water once. Then I had to forget about it because my balance and the hill did not complement one another.

I'm typing this on my laptop and hope to easily upload the photos by switching to my iphone.