THERE are geraniums for almost every situation for sun and for shade, for borders and ground cover. By geranium, I do not mean pelargonium, the varied plant from South Africa that many of us grow in pots, but rather the plant which is commonly known as Crane's Bill. The use of the name geranium for what are really pelargoniums causes much confusion.
The real geraniums are good value, not any use as cut flowers, but they give a most excellent account of themselves in the garden and there are many to choose from. They vary from native plants, such as geranium pratenae and geranium sylvaticum, to, handsome imports from the Far East.
For a rock garden or a space in a trough, you might seek out the scarce treasure, geranium x lindavicum "Lissadell" which was raised in the nursery of that name in Sligo earlier this century. The silvery grey leaves set off the rich wine purple flowers in a most elegant fashion. I mention this in passing because those who prefer smaller plants and enjoy a bit of a hunt will like to know about it. For many of us, something so small could be a bit of a responsibility, when we want things which will pay their way generously and make themselves at home.
For weeks now, many geraniums have been doing just that, in an easy and carefree way, with little contribution from the gardener. For the middle of the border, geranium psilostemon is a telling plant. This can grow up to four feet in height, with flowers of intense magenta which make a dramatic show for weeks around mid summer. Not all geraniums are suitable for the refinement of a herbaceous border, but this one behaves admirably and has no thuggish tendencies.
If some geraniums pose a problem, it is their exuberance and happy colonising habit that can make some gardeners wary. For instance, geranium procurrens from the Himalaya is an excellent creeping and invasive ground cover for a difficult bank or a dry place under a deciduous tree or under shrubs. From July to October it will be a generous mass of lavender purple plants. Don't plant it among your treasured phloxes or delphiniums.
Geranium procurrens once met up with geranium psilostemon and they had a good time this was in flat Lincolnshire, not the romantic Himalaya. Their progeny has the very best traits of the parents and I recommend it thoroughly geranium Anne Folkard. Here is a real star suit able for the best company. The plant produces long, lax, trailing stems which can spread for yards in all directions, insinuating their way into other plants in a delightful and charming way, so that rich magenta purple flowers appear in all sorts of unexpected places.
Its growth is not so dense as to harm any of its neighbours and happily it does not root from the trailing stems, 59 it cannot become a weedy nuisance.
Geranium orientalitibetium sounds suitably exotic and makes excellent ground cover among shrubs. It is somewhat invasive when settled, so I would not mix it in with the campanulas and choicer asters. The foliage is attractive, divided leaves of mid green marbled with pale green. As the leaves age they develop purple red margins. For foliage alone, from spring to autumn this would be worthwhile. From June onwards, small flowers of magenta pink are held about a foot high above the mottled green carpet.
Even more vigorous is the lovely geranium endressii from the Pyenees. This I love especially for mixing with roses and catmint. It makes a dense green mass from spring, onwards and produces clear pink flowers for months on end. Even in half shade it is good. There are named forms about, such as Wargrave Pink and "A.T. Johnson." Summer would not be complete without it.