Gorgeous eraniums ...the real thing

These versatile plants don’t just look great – they are robust and hardy, and there are a range of beautiful varieties to choose from

My love of geraniums has been a longstanding one. I remember as a child that in late summer and early autumn, the pretty mounds of colourful flowers spilled out over the borders of our garden beds, and then later in the season scattered their light petals over pathways and lawns like a celebratory wedding procession.

There are not many plants as versatile as the geranium. With their masses of colourful flowers and deep green structured foliage, they don’t just look good – they are also robust and hardy, and are mostly untouched by slugs and other pests. It is also good to know that there is a different variety of geranium for every situation – whether you have a damp garden or a dry border, there are plenty to choose from. Colour options are also plentiful; from large deep sapphire blue saucers and floriferous dwarf varieties with magenta pink blossoms, to almost-black plants with endless flowers on tall stems, geraniums truly spoil us for choice.

Some of us associate the name geranium with the strong citrus perfume of a half-hardy plant commmonly given the same name. When I was young we also grew these scented flowers indoors throughout the whole year and they make great indoor plants. This geranium may carry the same common name, but is in fact a pelargonium or ‘storksbill’, and is not the hardy garden plant that’s the real thing.

The hardy geraniums are mostly annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants whose name comes from the Greek word géranos, meaning crane. In English we call the flowers ‘cranesbill’ due to the long fruit capsule on some varieties which resembles a bill of a crane.

When considering growing some geraniums in your garden, there are really very few downsides. They make wonderful ground cover, allowing virtually nothing to grow underneath and thus keeping weeds under control. Indeed, they are often used in covering larger areas of soil – particularly at the front of borders, where gardeners don’t want to plant anything too showy, but are keen to avoid any unsightly gaps – as the mounds of geraniums fill out empty space beautifully.

Another benefit of the plant is the foliage. Early in the season, the striking green foliage of most of the geranium varieties are a great visual support to other early bloomers, making for a very lush, green border. The geranium is also a very useful plant to bring coherence to a border from season to season. The fact that they bloom for such long stretches allows the geranium flowers to remain as the seasons change, creating a strong base with a feeling of continuity.

To get the most out of your geraniums, cut back the plant after flowering to stimulate new growth. Also, lift plants and divide them into clumps every three to four years, as new growth begins in the spring.