Frequently asked questions
What is the longest blooming hardy geranium?
ONE of the reasons hardy geraniums are so valuable in the garden is that they are a key plant for successional colour. You can choose varieties so they flower one after the other and you will never be left without geraniums in flower. Many early flowering varieties will put on a second flush of flowers after cutting back and a few are exceptionally longflowering cultivars that will keep blooming right into October and later in sheltered gardens. Two of the best for long flowering seasons are Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ reliably in bloom from summer to autumn, although possibly trumped by Geranium ‘Mavis Simpson’ that flowers from early summer to late autumn.
Which geranium has the largest flower?
HARDY geraniums are not noted for the size of their flowers, more for the abundance of blooms and their capacity to bring colour to the garden for months. However, if you are looking for larger blooms, some new cultivars have been bred to improve on the size traditionally expected of more classic varieties. Try ‘Orion’ with its larger than average bright blue, red-veined flowers. More recently, ‘Orion’ has become the parent to Geranium ‘Eureka Blue’, which has larger flowers still, in an even more intense blue colour.
What is the best-smelling geranium?
IF you’re looking for scented geraniums you are probably after a pelargonium. Pelargoniums are a different genus, but are often referred to, mistakenly, as tender geraniums. The flowers and leaves of pelargoniums are the source of an essence used to add fragrance to candles and oils. However, some hardy geraniums do have aromatic foliage. Try Geranium macrorrhizum varieties with softer, more velvety foliage, such as ‘Ingwersen’s Variety’ or ‘Spessart’ that will release a very light geranium fragrance when touched.