6 hardy geraniums for groundcover
G.
‘Ann Folkard’ AGM
Young foliage is a vivid golden-green, becoming green later, and the magenta flowers feature beautifully black veins with a bold black eye. Spreads widely from the crown, but then dies back in winter. Will sprawl into nearby shrubs. Type hybrid of G. psilostemon. Good for: Full sun. Hardiness: RHS H7. Height: 1ft 10in (50cm). Also try ‘Anne Thomson’ (similar, but less vigorous).
G. renardii
AGM
Makes a low, dense rounded mound of grey-green, lobed, felted foliage. In May and June the upward-facing blue-tinted white flowers open, veined in violet. Type wild species. Good with: Medium-height bearded irises. Foliage is good cut for posies. Ideal front-of-the border groundcover in sun. Hardiness: RHS H6. Height: 14in (35cm). Also try ‘Whiteknights’ (lavender flowers, violet veins).
G. sanguineum
‘Max Frei’
Low and bushy, with neatly fingered leaves that turn red in the autumn making compact cover over steadily spreading roots. In May and June the pale magenta-purple flowers open, held facing upwards against the foliage. Type variety of G. sanguineum. Good for: Full sun, well-drained soil. Hardiness: RHS H7. Height: 6in (15cm). Also try ‘Ankum’s Pride’ (rose-pink).
G.
Rozanne (‘Gerwat’) AGM
A superb tall groundcover, plant its pairs of prettily split leaves set off the exceptionally long season of white-eyed blue flowers from June to October. Voted as Plant of the Centenary by the RHS. Type hybrid of ‘Buxton’s Variety’ and
G. himalayense. Good as: Large-scale groundcover, as a container specimen. Hardiness: RHS H7. Height: 2ft (60cm). Also try ‘Kelly Anne’(pink version).
G.
‘Orion’ AGM
From June to August, the large lavenderblue flowers open continually with the almost rounded petals overlapping to add to the impact. One of the best of all hardy perennial flowers. Type A hybrid of G. pratense. Good for: Tall groundcover for good soil in sun. Hardiness: RHS H7. Height: 2ft 7in (80cm). Also try ‘Brookside’ (similar, shorter, and the flowers have reddish veins).
G. macrorrhizum
‘White-ness’ AGM Sprawling stems carry almost evergreen aromatic foliage setting off the purewhite flowers in May and June. Thrives in a wide range of soils and situations. Type G. macrorrhizum variety. Good for: Neat groundcover in shade, also thrives in sun but looks less lush. Good in broad sweeps around deciduous shrubs. Hardiness: RHS H7. Height: 1ft (30cm). Also try ‘Bevan’s Variety’ (magenta-pink).