More on Hardy Geraniums: "Patricia" is taller than most perennial geraniums, topping out at almost 30 inches. The flowers are large, and bright magenta-pink, much like a dark pink petunia.

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 window box 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 these plants.

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

There are about 20 species worldwide, and two magenta-flowered ones are well-known in the US. 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.

Purple/Magenta: 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.