MY THREE FAVOURITES

Geranium Roxanne

Here is a geranium that does as well in shade as full sun.

This plant, above, is covered in blue flowers from May to September and in my garden it actually flowered until the first frost last year. The flowers are a beautiful lilac hue of blue and have gorgeous white centres allowing the starshaped stamens to stand out. Plant at the base of roses where they cover the ground and disguise the unsightly leggy base.

Geranium psilostemon

This geranium, below, known as the Armenian Cranesbill, is a lovely pink variety that forms clumps of lobed leaves.

The flowers are a shade of magenta pink with stunning black centres and black lines leading out into the petals. They will grow almost anywhere but do not like waterlogged soil. They will do well in sun or shade, and the leaves blush to a deep red tint in autumn.

Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’

This elegant geranium, above right, is a lovely plant for damp or dry shade and has an unusual shape and colour. Growing in an erect habit with long stems and compact foliage, it flowers a little earlier than the above geraniums, making it very useful for late spring and early summer. I used it in my 2012 show garden at Bloom in the Park, where the lovely leaves formed a nice contrast to the meadow-like feel of the grasses and perennials.