Geranium - Woodland

In the shady part of the garden these Geraniums are outstanding. They do well under trees where few perennials prosper. Landscape companions are Hosta, Ferns, Carex, Viola & Helleborus.

Geranium asphodeloides

Zone 6. Iran, Turkey. Height 15cm. (6") Spread 1M. (4'). This Geranium has abundant, small, cupped, blush-pink flowers with strong purple veining in spring and early summer. It has a nice evergreen clump in winter. Use this plant under shrubs as a groundcover or in areas that you find difficult to fill. It is asy and adaptable.

Geranium maculatum 'Album'

Zone 4. Eastern N.A. Height 60cm. (2') Spread 50cm. (1 1/2'). The flowers are pure white in spring. The foliage is attractively lobed and marked with ghostly green spots. Plant this Geranium with Primula, spring bulbs and Rhododendrons for the complete spring woodland garden. It prefers soils that do not dry out.

Geranium X monacense

Zone 4. This is a hybrid of Geranium phaeum and Geranium reflexum. Height 80cm. (2 3/4') Spread 60cm. (2'). These spring flowers are deep purple-maroon, almost black, with a tiny white center and reflexed petals. The foliage is extremely attractive, grass green with prominent black blotches at each lobe forming a large mound shape. It is an ideal vigorous growing landscape plant for shade to semi-shade.

Geranium palmatum

Zone 8. Madeira. Height 2M. (6') Spread 1.5M (5') (in ground, in pots smaller) The flowers are neon-magenta. It is a truly magnificent plant in bloom but is also grown for its tropical palm-like foliage! the foliage is apple green in color and the long stems are deep green. It is a short lived perennial and quite rare, but is written about a lot in Gardening magazines.

Geranium phaeum 'Album'

Zone 2. Height 1M. (4') Spread 60cm. (2'). The starch white flowers would brighten any dark shady corner in your garden in spring.

Geranium phaeum 'Lily Lovell'

Zone 3. This is a garden selection of Geranium phaeum from Trevor Bath in England. Height 1M. (4') Spread 80cm. (2 1/2') The large royal purple flowers have a white center and bloom from late spring into summer. This is the largest flowering Geranium phaeum to date. Highly recommended! Shade.

Geranium phaeum 'Variegatum'

Zone 2. Height 60cm. (2') Spread 45cm. (1 1/2'). The flowers are maroon with white eye in spring. This plant has highly variegated foliage, cream with red blotches and green. It is a definate conversation piece for your garden. Shade to semi-shade.

Geranium phaeum 'Rainforest Selection'

Zone 2. This is a Rainforest Garden seedling selection from Geranium phaeum 'Lily Lovell'. It has violet flowers with a blush center. The standout characteristic on this plant is the foliage. G. phaeum has attractive foliage to begin with but this one has bold black markings on each lobe making it a truly magnificent foliage plant too.

Geranium phaeum var. phaeum

Zone 2. Eastern Europe. Height 1M.(4') Spread 80cm. (2 3/4'). This variation on Geranium phaeum has lighter flowers. They are mahogany with purple tones and a white eye. It is evergreen in milder climates and is excellent for deep shade.

Geranium rubescens

Zone 7. Madeira. This biennial Geranium resembles its cousin Geranium robertianum, though it is much larger and more tropical looking with brilliant burgundy stems and glossy deep green foliage. The flowers are also larger purplish-pink with veining. It is very floriferous and blooms all summer long. Exotic!

Geranium sylvaticum

Zone 2. Europe. Height 1M in bloom. ( 4') Spread 60cm. (2'). This is a plant suitable for woodland or perennial border plantings. It has large bold foliage at the base with the flower stalks rising up bearing violet-pink flowers with a white eye. It blooms in spring and mixes well with Hosta and Siberian Iris.

Geranium sylvaticum 'Album'

Zone 2. Europe. Height 70cm. (2 1/4') Spread 45cm. (1 1/2'). This Geranium is very popular as it has slightly larger flowers than the species and its' colour is very pure pristine white.The bold foliage is held in nice clumps at base. Semi-shade.

Geranium versicolor

Zone 5. Southern Europe. Height 30cm. (1') Spread 1M. (4'). These flowers are white with wine colored veining giving them a lacy effect, blooming all summer long. The leaves are unusually lobed, glossy mid-green with dark spots at each lobe. It is tough and easy as a filler in a woodland garden and is evergreen in mild climates. An eyecatcher and a favorite.