These are commonly-grown, low-growing, dense, carpet-like plants, not to be confused with zonal geraniums.
These perennials have flower stalks that poke and weave through neighboring plants, floating on top of the plant.
Hardy geraniums grow best in well-drained, moderately rich soil.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Note that geraniums are toxic to pets.
For the best flowering and vigorous geranium plants, site them infull sun to partial shade.
If geraniums are grown in hot, full sun, provide regular water.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Soil
Geraniums are not particular aboutsoil pH, but a neutral to slightly acidic soil is ideal.
Most prefer medium-moisture, well-drained soil, though some species prefer relatively dry soil.
Water
Geraniums are a low-maintenance plant, so water them only when the soil becomes dry.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
If located in full sun, water the plant more frequently.
Hardy geraniums can become prone to fungal disease if watered overhead.
Poor soils might require a spring feeding with a time-releasebalanced fertilizer.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Pruning
Hardy geraniums require little care once established.
They can get scraggly after blooming, anddeadheadingis difficult because of its many wispy stems.
Shearing the plants back to basal growth will improve their look and encourage re-blooming.
The plants fill out within weeks.
macrorrhizum, which is easily deadheaded and needs no shearing.
Pruning Tip
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Always remember to sterilize before and after using.
Propagating Hardy Geraniums
Cranesbill geraniums can be divided and replanted through early summer.
Plants started from seed can take several years before they flower.
Once you see the center dying out, it is time to divide.
They do not spread uncontrollably and are rarely a problem.
The volunteer seedlings can be easily dug up and transplanted elsewhere.
you’re free to also collect and plant seeds in the garden or seed-starter trays.
That said, there’s no reason it’s possible for you to’t do it.
The container can be made of any material but must have good drainage.
Spread out the roots of the geranium as you plant it.
Hardy geraniums don’t like waterlogged soil, so weekly watering should suffice.
In colder climates, move the pots to a sheltered spot for the winter to protect the roots.
These plants are not suitable for moving indoors to grow as houseplants.
Shearing back and disposing of the infected leaves will help.
Mildew spores are spread from water splashing against the soil.
How Long Does Hardy Geranium Bloom?
Hardy geraniums bloom for about three months.
Often, there is one particularly heavy flush of flowers, with fewer blooms continuing in subsequent months.
Shearing back plants after the main flush frequently stimulates more blooms to follow.
What Do Hardy Geraniums Flowers Look and Smell Like?
The flowers are five-petalled, usually pink, purple, blue, or white.
Some have a mild, pleasant scent, if at all.
Deadheading Hardy Geranium Flowers
Most geraniums are wispy and difficult to deadhead.
It’s best to shear the plants to the base after flowering to promote more blooms to appear.
The only hardy geranium worth deadheading isGeranium macrorrhizum,which is easy to deadhead.
Fortunately, hardy geranium is relatively easy to dig out and eliminate.
Leggy Growth
After flowering, hardy geraniums can become somewhat leggy and sparse.
It’s easy to shear or cut back the sparse stems, stimulating new growth.
When Carl Linnaeus initially categorized these plants during the mid-1700s, both were included in theGeraniumgenus.
They were separated into theGeraniumandPelargoniumgenera in 1789.
Currently, species in thePelargoniumgenus are still mistakenly called geraniums.
Unlike zonal geraniums, true geraniums require a dormant winter chill period and are impractical to grow as houseplants.
Hardy geraniums can be used in various ways in the landscape, depending on the key in.
They can also make good ground cover plants to weave among other species in a mixed perennial bed.
