Garden And Gardener

Everything for the Gardener and their Garden

Fantastic tough plants for shadey areas

by Diane - March 20th, 2012.
Filed under: Thompson and Morgan.

Hardy Geraniums available at Thompson & Morgan – If you can kill a hardy geranium, maybe you should give up gardening. They are utterly indestructible, failsafe, foolproof plants.
Hardy geraniums will do well in shade – if it’s dry shade then they’ll love it there too. I have some under a privet hedge which flower profusely in the summer. They take very little care and look fab. The bees love them too.

Geranium pratense 'Purple Haze' - 1 packet (5 seeds)

Geranium pratense ‘Purple Haze’ – 1 packet (5 seeds) £0.99
One of the hardy Geranium discoveries of the century!
‘Purple Haze’ is a stunning plant, producing amazing foliage with a unique bronze-purple hue, a shade rarely seen in hardy Geranium foliage.
The leaves are deepest in shade during spring, gradually changing to an attractive deep green with strong purple edging. Even more exciting is the striking contrast of the blooms, perfectly themed in shades of gorgeous violet-mauve. Height: 60-75cm (24-30in).

Geranium 'Rozanne' - 1 jumbo plug

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ – 1 jumbo plug £8.99
A celebrated Cranesbill producing masses of saucer shaped, violet blue blooms with dainty white centres. Repeat flowering throughout the summer, hardy Geranium ‘Rozanne’ makes excellent ground cover through the front of informal borders or spilling from containers. As summer ends the loose mounds of foliage colour to reddish brown and fiery orange for an extended display into autumn. Height: 30cm (12″). Spread: 60cm (24″).

Geranium phaeum - Part of the Alan Titchmarsh Collection - 1 bareroot plant

Geranium phaeum – Part of the Alan Titchmarsh Collection – 1 bareroot plant £8.99
 If you can kill a hardy geranium, maybe you should give up gardening. They are utterly indestructible, failsafe, foolproof plants.
The Mourning Widow, despite the less than cheerful name, is a sparkling variety with shiny, deep maroon blooms en masse. Will grow in any soil whatsoever. Height: 75cm (30″). Alan Titchmarsh tip – “Geranium phaeum is the first hardy geranium to flower in April, a good chop and a good drink works wonders in late May.” 

Geranium pratense 'Summer Skies' - 1 bareroot plant

Geranium pratense ‘Summer Skies’ – 1 bareroot plant £10.99
Plant swathes of this gorgeous mauve-pink geranium in your cottage garden borders and enjoy dreamy summer skies all summer long. The double blooms of Geranium pratense ‘Summer Skies’ may look delicate but this hardy herbaceous perennial is tough and undemanding. Unlike its single flowered relations, this meadow cranesbill does not self seed, so the flowers last even longer. Height: 90cm (36”). Spread: 60cm (24”).

Geranium phaeum - Part of the Alan Titchmarsh Collection - 3 bareroot plants

Geranium phaeum – Part of the Alan Titchmarsh Collection – 3 bareroot plants £12.99
 If you can kill a hardy geranium, maybe you should give up gardening. They are utterly indestructible, failsafe, foolproof plants. The Mourning Widow, despite the less than cheerful name, is a sparkling variety with shiny, deep maroon blooms en masse. Will grow in any soil whatsoever. Height: 75cm (30″). Alan Titchmarsh tip – “Geranium phaeum is the first hardy geranium to flower in April, a good chop and a good drink works wonders in late May.” 

Geranium 'Rozanne' - 3 jumbo plugs

Geranium ‘Rozanne’ – 3 jumbo plugs £15.99
A celebrated Cranesbill producing masses of saucer shaped, violet blue blooms with dainty white centres. Repeat flowering throughout the summer, hardy Geranium ‘Rozanne’ makes excellent ground cover through the front of informal borders or spilling from containers. As summer ends the loose mounds of foliage colour to reddish brown and fiery orange for an extended display into autumn. Height: 30cm (12″). Spread: 60cm (24″).

Geranium 'Double Flowered Collection' - 3 bareroot plants - 1 of each variety

Geranium ‘Double Flowered Collection’ – 3 bareroot plants – 1 of each variety £17.99
Enjoy our selection of the very best double-flowered cranesbills. Every bloom is a pretty posy of vibrant colour and unlike their single flowered relations, these hardy geraniums won’t self seed, so the flowers last even longer. These cottage garden favourites will quickly blend with other herbaceous perennials to create colourful groundcover, and look equally attractive in borders or containers. Height: Up to 90cm (36″). Spread: 60cm (24″).Collection comprises 1 plant each of: Geranium himalayense ‘Birch Double’ (left) – Vigorous and versatile, this superb cranesbill tolerates almost any situation; even full shade.Geranium pratense ‘Laura’ (bottom right) – Long lasting, weather resistant, double white flowers are produced from June onwards on upright, downy stems.Geranium pratense ‘Summer Skies’ (top right) – The double blooms of Geranium pratense ‘Summer Skies’ may look delicate but this hardy herbaceous perennial is tough and undemanding.