I’ve always found Geranium psilostemon a vibrant, uplifting plant to have in the garden. Fellow blogger Veronica visited recently, and wrote a lovely post appreciating the combination of this intense pink against the acid yellow of Euphorbia palustris, now happily self-seeded throughout the garden.
Sipping an early morning coffee, I was delighted to see that this Geranium had also started dotting itself around, but although retaining the same colour and dark inner markings, the petals have morphed into an entirely different shape.
I’m completely charmed by this variant. Gaps between the petals, accentuated by the now revealed green sepals, add an even more joyous nature to this already lively bloom. I’m going to see if I can take some cuttings as I love this new form and try to remember to collect seeds for further experimentation.
On a rather different, but equally exciting note, The Chelsea Fringe continues this week up until Sunday 8th. There are still plenty of horticultural happenings to go and visit (mostly free!) and I’m particularly looking forward to visiting Wendy Shillam’s rooftop garden which is open Thursday 5th, Friday 6th and Saturday 7th June, 1-6pm. She’s growing oodles of veg right in the heart of London (Great Titchfield Street) and I can’t wait to see it all!
How strange but wonderful the variation. It is indeed joyous. And what a lovely pic of your garden on Veronica’s blog. (New shed?)
Reblogged this on Linda's wildlife garden and commented:
Awesome post and thank you for sharing
Hi Naomi, Geranium psilostemon is a great plant and I love your new variation, it’s always exciting when nature does something unexpected. If you like geraniums you might like G. ‘Mrs Kendal Clark’ which is one of my favourites at Sissinghurst. Helen (gardener)
We’ve been admiring this out and about recently, and have just sown our first seeds – can’t wait ! 🙂
Hi Naomi, I love this combination of plants and colours, how exciting too to discover the new shape, I think its even nicer than the original.
I too love this geranium, it’s colour is so vibrant. Unlike so many others though I don’t have it seed so I just split it . Enjoy your visits….
I have had one of these geraniums in my garden for as long as I can remember but as far as I know it has never seeded itself anywhere. Maybe I am just too vigorous with the weeding! I think I might give it a helping hand this year to see if I can get any lovely variations like yours. I love the euphorbia you have grown near it – another for my wish list. I have my geranium at the shady side of my long herbaceous border and I am always amazed at how tall it grows. Do you stake yours (as I do) or let it tumble naturally? If I don’t control mine it tends to smother everything else in the vicinity. Not quite out yet so something to look forward to shortly.
In my wilderness (garden), I have masses of hardy Geranium, in flower now. I find this a beautiful start to the year in my life/garden/jungle xx
The colour of your geranium really sings! Is it winter hardy during a harsher UK winter?
I also plan to pop down to Wendy’s fringe event (so curious to see her roof top garden!), probably Friday for me although will be in Regent’s Park on Thursday afternoon.
I love your geranium variant – it’ll be interesting to see what happens with the seed you collect. Have a wonderful time at Wendy’s event – I’m most envious you’re close enough to attend, but luckily there’s another Fringe event I can go to on Saturday in Bath. Wendy also took part in my virtual event this year – she has some fab stripy mugs!
Hi Naomi, Very pleased to see you posting. I texted you recently but don’t know if you have the same number. I will try to call you at home. I wanted to see how you are and to try to get you to think about a date to come north – even in the autumn if that’s better for you. Love Naomi xx
I love this hardy geranium too but have only managed to establish one in our shady, heavy clay London garden square, surprisingly on the north facing side of an island bed, pusing over the path from under spirea x bumalda Anthony Waterer. I have tried it in other places but it always disappears. Anyone help me with what it needs? Maybe these conditions don’t favour hardy geraniums., except g. phaeum, which grows like a weed but gets dull looking after flowering and g. macrorrhizum and rozanne which I am happy with and another rather rambly one, with good bright green foliage and little mauvy blue flowers now. I would really love to have more g. psilostemon, though. So please, please, some tips
When flowers morph as your did, I’m always amazed and find I can’t stop googling to find out why! In your top photo, the geranium looks near identical to our Mexican petunia (aka Ruellia simplex!
You’ve got a very interesting variation of flowers, looks amazing!
It’s lovely to see your posts again , I hope you are well . A garden is always good for the soul , but terrible for the fingernails ! Welcome back . Cheryl
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I agree, Cheryl. I have been missing posts from my favourite garden website.So good to have Naomi back to give us all inspiration.
what a gorgeous geranium flower – the black centres and stripes really make the magenta colour vibrate! on a grey winter’s day, that flower really cheers me up.
and that small rooftop garden is so inspirational, no matter what sixe your backyard.
ps love cheryl’s comment about gardening being good for the soul but bad for the manicure 🙂
So agree about this lovely plant, but please advise re soil and does it want space around it?
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That variant is a real stunner. I agree the gaps between the petals make it special. How do you go about getting a plant recognised as a new variety? Maybe you could have it named after you. 😉 I haven’t had the chance to get to any fringe events this year unfortunately. I’m hoping I can just squeeze in a ‘show of hands’ before the end of the festival.
What a glorious colour! I’ve grown this in the dim and distant past and your post is a welcome nudge for me to seek this geranium out again Naomi. Your seedling looks rather special.
Love your geraniums, the photos are wonderful, and the colors are so engaging.. I am looking forward to seeing more of the rooftop garden.
Hi All, thanks so much for your comments. Helen, I do indeed love a G. ‘Mrs. Kendal Clark’ -the gentle cousin to G. Psilostemon. Annette, I don’t stake my Euphorbia palustris as it doesn’t seem to flop too much in my garden. Susan, my geranium also growing in heavy clay, but packed in with other plants around it and in the sun-has always been happy in this position (if this helps!). Charlie-more of Wendy’s wonderful rooftop(which I did go and visit) in future posts.
Thanks so much for reply. Not enough sun is probably my problem but I shall fight on Susan
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[…] alongside globes of Allium purple sensation, and I’m pleased to see Phloxes, Roses, Geranium psilostemon (above) and Sisyrinchium coming along too so that they’ll be continued colour in the border […]