Six plants to grow with hardy geraniums

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Thursday, 28 March 2019 at 9:58 am

Take a look at some of our favourite plant combinations of hardy geraniums.

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Hardy geraniums, also called cranesbills, are some of the simplest plants to grow and they offer a diverse range of flower colours and shapes.

Their easy-going nature also means there are plenty of plants to combine them with, from underplanting trees and shrubs in dappled shade, or in a sunny cottage garden border.

While geraniums are easy to grow, they don't enjoy waterlogged or very dry soil. To enjoy more flowers, take a look at our advice on cutting back geraniums to induce a second flush of blooms.

Take a look at six plants to grow with hardy geraniums for ideas and inspiration.

Oriental poppies and hardy geraniums

This pretty combination of oriental poppies, here the variety 'Patty's Plum', and Geranium 'Wargrave Pink' is perfect for a sunny spot. The geranium foliage will help disguise the dying foliage of the poppies, too.

Poppies and geraniums

Plum-coloured poppy 'Patty's Plum' and pale pink Geranium 'Wargrave Pink'

Geranium and thyme

Smaller and neater varieties of hardy geraniums, such as 'Ballerina' and 'Max Frei' (pictured) are ideal for growing in pots and containers. Here the variety is planted in a stone trough with creeping thyme, Thymus serpyllum 'Red Carpet'.

Geranium and thyme

Purple flowering Geranium 'Max Frie' and thyme 'Red Carpet' in a stone trough

Dusky cranesbill and euphorbia underplanting

Euphorbia amygdaloides var. robbiae is used to create an eye-catching effect here, lighting up the shaded area beneath a birch tree and showing off the deep purple flowers of Geranium phaeum 'Raven'.

Cranesbill and euphorbia

Deep-purple cranesbill flowers underplanted with brilliant lime-green euphorbia

White geraniums and ragged robin

This combination of white ragged robin and Geranium phaeum 'Album' is perfect for a partially shady spot, where the pale blooms really come to life. Add ferns to complete the woodland feel.

Ragged robin and geraniums

White Geranium phaeum 'Album' paired with white ragged robin

Lady's mantle and geraniums

Lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is a really useful plant to have in the garden, as it will grow in tricky, drought prone spots. It spreads easily, so can be contained in a pot and grown with geraniums (pictured). Also in the pot is Penstemon 'Elgar Nimrod'.

Alchemilla and geraniums