Hardy Geranium Plants

Hardy geranium plants – more info

Hardy geranium plants, also called cranesbills, are an underrated star of the perennial border. They bloom in bright, electric shades with delicate single or double forms all through the summer. They boast an impressive low maintenance habit that suits shade, half shade and full sun. Hardy geraniums last for years in the garden and will self seed, meaning a constant supply of fresh plants make the display even thicker. They thrive in a pot and make excellent ground cover in tricky dry shade, so really do belong anywhere in any garden!

When to plant out hardy geraniums

If you receive your hardy geranium plants as bare root, pot them up as soon as you receive them in the post. Use a multi-purpose compost and cover the bare root up to the juncture between root and stem, watering well to settle the compost.

Plug plants can be potted up in 9cm pots straight after they arrive too to keep the roots growing healthily. Plant your hardy geraniums out into the garden when they’ve put on some fresh healthy green growth. Being fully hardy, geraniums are tough enough to plant in autumn, winter or spring.

Are hardy geraniums perennial plants?

Hardy geraniums are perennial, which means they survive for years, returning to flower summer after summer. Hardy geraniums self-seed too, so expect to see young seedlings popping up in paving cracks and in new spots in the border, getting ready to spread their glorious colour. Head to our geranium and pelargonium info page to find out more about these fabulous garden plants.

Where should I plant hardy geraniums?

Plant your hardy geraniums in the border to correspond to their height at maturity. Award winning Geranium ‘Rozanne’ reaches a height of 30cm and is best planted at the front of a border or spilling from a patio pot. The taller, double violet blooms of Geranium pratense 'Plenum Violaceum' peak at 60cm so do better in the centre of a border where they won’t block lower growing plants. The pink flowers of the clump forming Geranium endressii are made for a cottage garden and are perfect for ground cover.