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The best hardy geraniums for shade
Choosing planting

The best hardy geraniums for shade

Our favourite varieties

Contents

Modified the Wednesday, 6 August 2025  by Alexandra 3 min.

Hardy geraniums often form large clumps that beautifully dress the base of trees and bushes, adding a touch of colour. The geranium is THE solution for occupying a shaded area, enhancing it with a long flowering period, while keeping maintenance to a minimum ! While many plants thrive in sunlight, geraniums allow for the creation of a woodland garden or to brighten a shaded bank. They adapt to various situations and can flourish where other plants struggle to grow. Feel free to plant them alongside ferns, hostas, tricyrtis, and comfrey.

Difficulty

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Geranium nodosum

Few plants are suited to deep shade, but the Geranium nodosum is a solution for these gardens. It tolerates the shadiest situations, even dry shade! It makes a good ground cover, with superb glossy foliage and blue or lilac flowers. Additionally, it offers a long flowering period, from May to September.

Geranium nodosum Silverwood

Geranium nodosum Silverwood

With its white flowers with silver reflections, the hardy geranium 'Silverwood' will bring a lot of brightness to a woodland garden! Its flowering stands out beautifully against its bright green foliage.
  • Flowering time July to October
  • Height at maturity 35 cm
Geranium nodosum Clos du Coudray

Geranium nodosum Clos du Coudray

For a more pronounced shade, discover the hardy geranium 'Clos du Coudray'! It bears superb mauve flowers, delicately edged in white, and contrasted by fine dark purple veins.
  • Flowering time July to October
  • Height at maturity 50 cm

 

The hardy geranium 'Silverwood'

Geranium nodosum ‘Silverwood’

Read also

Hardy geraniums: Plant, grow and maintain

Geranium maculatum

The Geranium maculatum is an excellent geranium for shade, to grow in cool to moist soil. It is appreciated for its lovely mauve pink flowering, very soft, and for its finely cut foliage, a beautiful bright green. Growing in an upright clump, it is taller than most other geraniums.

Geranium maculatum Espresso

Geranium maculatum Espresso

The Geranium maculatum 'Espresso' offers a delicate pale pink flowering, highlighted by dark foliage, chocolate colour.
  • Flowering time June to August
  • Height at maturity 60 cm
Geranium maculatum Chatto

Geranium maculatum Chatto

A variety with green foliage on which small light pink flowers stand out.
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 50 cm
Geranium maculatum var.album

Geranium maculatum var.album

This variety has an elegant white flowering. It tolerates wet or marshy soils very well.
  • Flowering time June to August
  • Height at maturity 75 cm

 

The Geranium maculatum 'Album'

Geranium maculatum ‘Album’

Discover other Hardy Geranium - Cranesbill

Geranium cantabrigiense collection
Geranium cantabrigiense collection
94
15,90 € -19%
Duo of Pink and White Erodiums
Duo of Pink and White Erodiums
42
9,90 € -16%
Géranium vivace Orion
Geranium Orion
Value-for-money
15
From 3,90 € • 8/9 cm pot

Available in 3 sizes

Collection 4 géraniums vivaces sanguineum
Collection of 4 perennial geraniums 'sa…
Out of stock
18,60 €
Géranium vivace Brookside - Géranium vivace hybride bleu
Geranium Brookside
7
From 9,50 € • 1L/1.5L pot

Available in 3 sizes

Collection Géraniums Vivaces Ombre Sèche
Selection of Geranium macrorrhizum - Dry Sha…
Value-for-money
Out of stock
33,40 €
Collection Geraniums Vivaces Blanc Bleu
Blue and White Perennial Geranium Collection
Out of stock
39,40 €
Géranium vivace sanguineum striatum
Geranium sanguineum var. striatum
Low price
Out of stock
From 2,90 € • 7/8 cm pot

Available in 2 sizes

Géranium vivace wlassovianum - Géranium rose pourpre
Geranium wlassovianum
Not to be missed!
22
From 6,90 € • 8/9 cm pot
Collection Géraniums de rocaille
Rockery Geraniums Collection
Out of stock
43,40 €
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Geranium macrorrhizum

The Geranium macrorrhizum is an excellent ground cover for shady situations. Its semi-evergreen foliage takes on beautiful hues in autumn. In regions with a mild climate, it retains its leaves in winter. It can tolerate dry shade.

Geranium macrorrhizum Spessart

Geranium macrorrhizum Spessart

Discover the Geranium macrorrhizum 'Spessart', a variety with white flowers, delicately tinged with pink.
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 30 cm
Geranium macrorrhizum Olympos

Geranium macrorrhizum Olympos

We appreciate the Geranium macrorrhizum 'Olympos' for its lovely pink flowering and its aromatic, highly fragrant foliage!
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 25 cm
Geranium macrorrhizum Czakor

Geranium macrorrhizum Czakor

A variety with very pronounced pink flowers. It is low-maintenance and perfectly tolerates dry soils.
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 35 cm

 

The flowering of Geranium macrorrhizum 'Spessart'

Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Spessart’

Read also

How to plant hardy geraniums?

Geranium phaeum

The Geranium phaeum stands out with its dark purple flowers, a very deep and intense shade. Its leaves are maculate with purple spots.

Geranium phaeum Album

Geranium phaeum Album

If the flowers of the type species are too dark for your taste, choose this variety with white flowers! It will beautifully lighten a shaded bed. It has lovely light green foliage.
  • Flowering time June to September
  • Height at maturity 60 cm
Geranium phaeum Samobor

Geranium phaeum Samobor

The 'Samobor' geranium has dark purple flowers, white in the centre, with petals that are turned backwards. Its leaves are tinged with purple.
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 75 cm
Geranium phaeum Lily Lovell

Geranium phaeum Lily Lovell

A variety with dark blue-violet flowers, lighter in the centre. Its foliage is maculate with purple.
  • Flowering time June to September
  • Height at maturity 80 cm

 

The dark purple flowers of the 'Samobor' geranium

Geranium phaeum ‘Samobor’

Geranium sylvaticum

The woodland geranium is well-suited for planting under trees, as this is its natural medium! However, it prefers partial shade to dense shade. Place it at the foot of deciduous trees! We appreciate its lovely mauve flowers, lighter at the centre, and its superbly cut foliage.

Geranium sylvaticum Album

Geranium sylvaticum Album

The Geranium sylvaticum 'Album' offers a generous white flowering in spring, which will brighten the darkest areas of the garden!
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 60 cm
Geranium sylvaticum Birch Lilac

Geranium sylvaticum Birch Lilac

This variety is appreciated for its delicate spring flowering, blue - mauve, tinged with white at the centre of the flower.
  • Flowering time June, July
  • Height at maturity 40 cm

 

The woodland geranium 'Birch Lilac'

Geranium sylvaticum ‘Birch Lilac’

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