The Hardy Geraniums were not very well-known in North America until recent years, but have always been a favorite group in Europe. Now, American gardeners have really embraced them, and can't get enough. These plants, far different from windowbox geraniums, which are in a totally different botanical group, are tough, hardy perennials that bring to gardens what every gardener wants: compact plants with a long season of bloom. Some bloom longer than others, but basically, along with really beautiful flowers, long bloom is the big advantage of the hardy geraniums.

A common name across all the species is "Cranesbill" which refers to the sharp-pointed seed pod after flowering.

Our wild species There are about 20 species worldwide, and two magenta-flowered ones are well-known in the US as native plants. Our Wild Geranium, or "Wild Cranesbill", G. maculatum, plus another called "Herb Robert" are found over most of the east as treasured wildflowers, but their short season of bloom makes them non-competitors with the others for garden space. Most of the garden favorites are crosses between species from Europe and Asia.

Blue: The basic coloring of "The Lilac Geranium" from the Himalayas, for example, gives us many of the great blue selections. Most popular from this group is "Johnson's Blue", a favorite with large (1 1/2 to 2") true blue flowers. Another from similar parentage is "Brookside" with even deeper blue flowers. And then there's the newer, spectacular blue-splashed white called "Splish Splash."

Purple/Magenta/White: Geranium sanguineum, is a species native to northern Europe and Asia, and known as "Bloody Cranesbill" due to its magenta flowers. It has become famous itself (the wild form) and is now the most popular hardy geranium in the US. A cultivar "Maxfrei" is a dwarf version, and a newer one, "Elke" has striking bi-colored flowers in magenta and white. Then there's the fantastic dwarf white one with pink veins in large white petals, called Geranium sanguineum var striatum, to me, the best-looking of them all.

Pink: "Patricia" is a favorite deep pink and is also one of the larger plants, up to 36". Another sensational pink one that's only about 12" high is "Ballerina", from the G. cinereum species with large striped pink petals and dark centers, almost like a bicolored petunia.