8 Hardy Geraniums for Beginners

The Hardy Geranium ‘magnificum’

This garden classic, awarded the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), stands out for its great ease of cultivation! It is remarkable in late spring borders. The Geranium x magnificum is one of those that appreciates sunny exposures. From June to July, it is adorned with an abundance of small flowers measuring 3 cm in diameter, in a stunning mauve-blue colour subtly veined with purple, of rare intensity. Its dark green foliage takes on beautiful orange hues in autumn.

It forms a lovely clump about 60 cm tall, spreading slowly without ever becoming invasive. As a bonus, it is very accommodating, tolerating heavy or poor soils.

Versatile, it is perfect for filling a sunny space and will easily find its place in a colourful mixed border, typical of English gardens, alongside, for example, the ‘Lady of Shalott’ rose with apricot flowers.

Geranium x magnificum

Geranium macrorrhizum 'Spessart'

Without a doubt, this is “THE” hardy geranium to reserve for the beginner gardener, as it shines with its ease of cultivation. The Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Spessart’ is a vigorous variety that thrives in all our regions, growing well in the shade of woodlands as well as in full sun on a bank.

Like all macrorrhizum geraniums, it makes an excellent groundcover. It forms cushions of evergreen, highly aromatic leaves that take on beautiful autumn colours, reaching no more than 30 cm in height. In May-June, this carpet of greenery is adorned with delicate small pale pink flowers.

It is not afraid of root competition, spreading quietly at the base of trees where it can even naturalise. To green up a woodland, it is an excellent alternative to ivy.

Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Spessart’

Hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’

Undisputed global star, the ‘Rozanne’ geranium is undoubtedly one of the best and most popular hardy geraniums. This variety has achieved worldwide success, having been named “Plant of the Century” at the Chelsea Flower Show 2013.

It is distinguished by an exceptionally long flowering period, uninterrupted for nearly 6 months, from June until the first frosts: it is the most floriferous on the market! It is also appreciated for the remarkable colour of its flowers, a sky-blue enhanced by a white centre veined with mauve, all supported by large apple-green leaves. It forms low, bushy carpets 20 to 30 cm high and 50 cm wide.

Very vigorous, it is easy to grow in both sun and partial shade, which it tolerates very well. Very accommodating, it even adapts to heavy soils.

It makes an excellent groundcover at the base of shrub roses and can border a flowerbed alongside other equally easy-to-grow perennials, such as Phlox paniculata.

Hardy geranium ‘Rozanne’

Geranium 'Pink Penny'

Also very floriferous, Hardy Geranium ‘Pink Penny’ is the pink version of ‘Rozanne’. Like it, it rewards us with a long, unending flowering period from June to October. Flowering late, it is interesting for bringing colour to the garden until early autumn. Its large lilac-pink flowers emerge above a cushion of semi-evergreen leaves of a very fresh green.

It forms a spreading groundcover of 35 cm high and 50 cm wide, and as it grows well in both sun and partial shade, it can thrive almost anywhere; at the foot of roses and hedges or along the edge of a border with small Salvias, as well as in woodland with Ferns and Tiarellas, for example.

Hardy Geranium ‘Pink Penny’

The hardy geranium phaeum 'Samobor'

Another very reliable and sturdy variety that enjoys shade, even if occasionally dry. The hardy geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’, also known as Brown Geranium, Blackish Geranium, or even Livid Geranium, forms a small semi-evergreen bush 75 cm high in flower and 45 cm wide. Small, discreet flowers, but richly coloured in purple-garnet-violet, adorn the tender green foliage variegated with chocolate purple in spring.

This hardy geranium is interesting for flowering in May-June in shaded situations. It forms discreet clumps in the background of shady borders, in woodlands, to edge a path to the North or East. It pairs well with all shade and part-shade perennials such as rhododendrons, hostas, or periwinkles.

Discover our collection of geraniums suitable for dry shade!

Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’ (© FD Richards)

The hardy geranium pratense 'Black'n White Army'

‘Black’n White Army’ is a brand new variety of hardy geranium derived from meadow geranium, a very robust species. It is accessible to all gardeners and is also very easy to grow in pots. It is one of the few varieties that offers original foliage. It stands out with beautifully dark, intense purple-brown foliage on which small white flowers finely veined with silver-grey create a striking contrast. This cultivar blooms in May-June, forming a lovely dentate cushion, about 35 cm high and 45 cm in diameter, particularly refined.

It thrives in full sun, although it tolerates partial shade well, where it blooms a little less. Place it in a border, along a path, or even in a large pot on the terrace. You will create a contrasting colour combination by planting it alongside the acid green of alchemilla, for example.

Geranium ‘Black’n White Army’ (© GAP photos Richard Bloom)

The hardy geranium oxonianum 'Katherine Adele'

Vigorous and floriferous, hardy and accommodating, the hardy geranium oxonianum ‘Katherine Adèle’ has all the qualities needed to satisfy the beginner gardener. Very cold-resistant, it can be grown in both shade and full sun (north of the Loire); in southern France, it prefers a less scorching exposure. Flowering from May to September, this hybrid produces cup-shaped flowers in white to very pale pink veined with dark pink on green foliage maculate with purple.

If it is happy, it can eventually form a large, easy-care groundcover, measuring 45 cm by 80 cm in diameter. Very versatile, you can plant it in perennial or low shrub borders, in rockeries, alongside, for example, the Cotoneaster atropurpureus ‘Variegatus’, and even in large pots on the terrace.

Geranium oxonianum ‘Katherine Adele’

The hardy geranium endressii 'Beholder's Eye'

Are you a novice gardener who also happens to be a lazy gardener? The hardy geranium ‘Beholder’s Eye’ is perfect for you! It stands out for its exceptional hardiness and vigour, forgiving even missed waterings or maintenance. We are charmed by its fruity, delicate, and luminous flowering from May to November, which appears as a multitude of small pink flowers veined with purple whose centres are illuminated with white-green.

It is ideal for weekend gardens, where it gradually forms flowering carpets up to 50 cm in all directions, although it can become a bit invasive. It thrives equally in sun or shade and is capable of colonising difficult slopes. It accepts all types of soil, including calcareous and/or clayey. Another advantage: it can be mowed like a lawn! You can avoid the chore of weeding by planting it as groundcover at the base of hedges and under bushes.

Hardy geranium ‘Beholder’s Eye’