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How to grow hardy geraniums and best varieties
Adaptable, dependable and colourful, hardy geraniums deserve their popularity. Discover our best geranium varieties and tips for how to grow them.
Ceri studied horticulture at the University of Reading and RHS Wisley. She edits Which? Gardening magazine and our online gardening content.
They’re surprisingly tough and very diverse, with varieties for almost every situation in the garden. Although many of them love the sun, plenty of varieties are said to be happy in shade, including tricky dry, shady areas.
Which? Gardening magazine grew a range of popular varieties to see which would give us the best display.
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Key facts
- Plant type - Herbaceous perennial
- Position - Shade or part shade
- Soil - Dry or moist, depending on variety
How to grow hardy geraniums: month by month
| January | February | March | April | May | June |
| PLANT | PLANT | FLOWERING | FLOWERING | ||
| July | August | September | October | November | December |
| FLOWERING/CUT BACK |
Planting hardy geraniums
Geraniums can be planted at any time of year, as long as the ground isn’t frozen. However, the widest selection of varieties will be available to buy in spring.
Plant in well-drained soil. Water them well after planting and for the first few months afterwards. Even the plants suited to dry soil will benefit from being watered until they’re established and growing well.
Help your plants with a recommended soil improver
Best hardy geranium varieties
Which? members can log in now to see the full results and which are our Best Buy varieties. If you’re not a member, join Which? to get instant access.
Full testing results for hardy geraniums
Which? members can log in now to see the full results and which are our Best Buy varieties. If you’re not a member, join Which? to get instant access.
Hardy geraniums for sun
| Variety name | Overall rating | Height x spread (cm) | Flower duration | Flower impact | Foliage impact | Ground coverage | Insect attraction | Garden worthiness | Pest & disease resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Anne Thomson' | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | ||||||||
| 'Azure Rush' | |||||||||
| 'Blue Cloud' | |||||||||
| 'Dilys' | |||||||||
| 'Elke' | |||||||||
| 'Mavis Simpson' | |||||||||
| 'Nimbus' | |||||||||
| 'Orkney Cherry' | |||||||||
| 'Rozanne' | |||||||||
| 'Storm Chaser' | |||||||||
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The more stars the better. SCORE Ignores price and is based on: Flower duration 20%, flower impact 20%, foliage impact 15%, ground covering 15%, pest and disease resistance 10%, garden worthiness 10%, insect attraction 10%
Hardy geraniums for shade
| Variety name | Overall rating | Height x spread (cm) | Flower duration | Flower impact | Foliage impact | Plant shape | Pest & disease problems | Bee attraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Brookside' | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | |||||||
| 'Clos Du Coudray' | ||||||||
| 'Elke' | ||||||||
| 'Havana Blues' | ||||||||
| G. maculatum f. albifolium | ||||||||
| 'Mount Olympus' | ||||||||
| 'New Hampshire' | ||||||||
| 'Nimbus' | ||||||||
| 'Rozanne' | ||||||||
| 'Sylvia's Surprise' | ||||||||
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Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
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OVERALL RATING The more stars the better. Rating ignores price and is based on: flower duration, 20%; flower impact, 20%, foliage impact, 20%; plant shape 20%; bee attraction 10%; pest & disease problems, 10%. Ratings given were taken during the second year of the trial. Height and spread measurements taken from trial plants grown in north London, when in full flower in the second year of the trial.
Tall hardy geraniums
| Variety name | Overall rating | Height x spread (cm) | Flowering duration | Peak flowering | Flower impact | Foliage impact | Shape | Pest & disease resistance | Insect attraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 'Brookside' | Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | ||||||||
| 'Eureka Blue' | |||||||||
| 'Johnson's Blue' | |||||||||
| 'Kashmir Blue' | |||||||||
| 'Mrs Kendall Clarke' | |||||||||
| 'Nimbus' | |||||||||
| 'Orion' | |||||||||
| 'Raven' | |||||||||
| 'Red Admiral' | |||||||||
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
The more stars the better. OVERALL RATING Ignores price and is based on: shape 20%; flower impact 20%; peak flowering 15%; flowering duration 15%; foliage impact 10%, pest and disease resistance 10%; insect attraction 10%.
How we test hardy geraniums
The researchers at Which? Gardening magazine chose a range of geraniums and grew three plants of each variety in our trial gardens at Capel Manor, north London, and at Oatridge College in West Lothian, Scotland.
After planting, we watered the plants until they were established, then left them to cope with any dry spells. For all varieties where the first flush of flowering ended in early summer, the stems were cutback to encourage a second flush of flowers.
All the plants were grown for two years and assessed for how many flowers they, how long they lasted and how good they looked; how attractive the foliage of the plant was; how dense and attractive the form was; whether the plants were diseased or particularly prone to damage from pests; and how many bees visited the flower
Caring for hardy geraniums
When to cut back hardy geraniums
When the first flush of flowers finishes in early summer, cut all the leaves and flowers ot the ground. Fresh leaves will soon grow and you might get a second flush of flowers.
Tidy up the plants in spring by removing any dead growth from the previous year.
Discover our best secateurs
Dividing plants
If clumps grow too big, they can be divided in spring. This can be done every few years if needed. Dig up the clump and either cut it into sections or divide it with two forks, pushed through back-to-back. Replant the new pieces or give them away to friends.
Common hardy geranium problems
Powdery mildew
Powdery mildew appears as a white down on the leaves. Improving air flow and watering the plants can help to alleviate it.
Read more about powdery mildew
Rust
Rust appears as brown pustules on the leaves. Remove any affected leaves as soon as you see signs, or spray with a suitable fungicide.
Vine weevils
Vine weevil grubs like geranium roots. If plants look wilted but don’t recover after watering, check how firmly they’re anchored in the soil and look for the white, ‘C’-shaped grubs. Use nematodes to treat the problem and apply while the soil is still warm enough in late summer.
Read more about vine weevils