Hardy Geranium Overview
Geranium is a large genus, containing around 300 deciduous, semi-evergreen or evergreen, hardy perennial species from the Geraniaceae family. They are also known by the name Cranesbill, these plants are found across temperate regions and tropical mountains, with most species in the Eastern Mediterranean. This genus is often confused with the similar-looking, non-hardy genus Pelargonium, which is confusingly also commonly known by the name Geranium. Species from the genus Geranium are often called Hardy Geranium to distinguish between these common names. Flowers come in a wide range of colours including pink, purple, blue and white and they possess 5 petals, which are often attractively veined or patterned with contrasting colours. For all Geranium species and cultivars, it's recommended to remove the flowering stems and old leaves to help fresh leaf and flower production. The leaves are broadly circular in outline and usually palmately lobed. The flowers come in different saucer-shaped sizes and attract a wide range range of pollinating insects. The flowering season is often long, many species are hardy, most are very low maintenance and there seems to be a Geranium for just about any garden situation! These qualities have made Geraniums - all related to wild Cranesbills - very popular with gardeners for many generations, and there are many species and cultivars available. (Geranium comes from the Greek noun 'geranos' meaning Crane, which is a reference to the beak-like seed capsule.)
