Thursday, July 07, 2011

Blue Hardy Geranium


Hardy Geranium
Geranium pratense 'Midnight Reiter'
(jer-AY-nee-um) (pray-TEN-see)
Synonyms: Meadow Cranesbill

This flower has been a welcome addition to the garden this year. Its dwarf habit, dark foliage and brilliant blue flowers are a nice package. I have been falling in love with all the Hardy Geraniums we have been planting. Any blue flower is usually okay with me and this one is a striking shade of blue.

Hardy Geraniums are easy to grow and will even tolerate some shade. The one thing I have learned about them is they like good drainage in the winter (like Asters). Other than that they are a care free and floriferous perennial. While none of the Hardy Geraniums get really big (they like to spread more) 'Midnight Reiter' seems to like to stay small only getting up to 8 inches tall. It does stick out in the border with the purple foliage and blue flowers.

1 comment:

DeniseinVA said...

Never ceases to amaze me just how perfect a flower can be.