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Identify hardy geraniums

paulstevpaulstev Posts: 7
in Plants
Earlier this year I grew some hardy geraniums from seed. The seed was sold as a mix (almost a lucky dip) so I have no idea what types I have grown. None have flowered this year and I don't expect them to so I wondered if anyone could identify any of the plants by their foliage alone? I'm fairly sure one of them is a sanguineum but I have no idea about the others. The plant shown in the third photo below has glossy leaves and what seems like hollow stems, which I think is unusual for a hardy geranium but I am a beginner so could just be showing my ignorance! 

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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,594
    There are so many that it's hard to be confident but....

    1. Reminds me of herb robert (Geranium robertianum) but it's usually regarded as a weed so I wouldn't expect it to be deliberately included in a seed mix.
    2. One of the sanguineums
    3. Looks like Geranium pratense or one of its hybrids
    4. Maybe G. psilostemon.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,193
    The third one could Geranium Palmatum. That's a great plant - fairly large (about 18" wide and high) with a nice pink flower with deeper veining and a distinctly exotic / tropical fern-like appearance.
    It appears to be rather tender - but it's not. It is, however, a relatively short lived perennial (maybe 3 seasons in my garden) but no worries - it will self-seed quite readily in the right conditions.

    G. palmatum is sometimes confused with Geranium maderense which is definitely more tender - and I think that could be number 1. Again it should seed quite easily. It won't enjoy a cold wet winter but the seedlings will come up next year.

    Agree number 2 is a sanguineum.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • paulstevpaulstev Posts: 7
    Thanks very much for your advice and assistance. If I remember, I'll post photos next year when they flower (hopefully they will flower next year). 
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,594
    Bear in mind that as they are from seed, they won't be identical to any of the popular cultivated varieties but will be either a species or a unique hybrid. Hopefully you'll get something really nice.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • paulstevpaulstev Posts: 7


    Number 4 has just started flowering. What do people think it could be? I thought perhaps Geranium Versicolor or maybe a variant of Wlassovianum, but might just be a hybrid. 
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 6,897
    The young leaves look a bit like g.nodosum but as it has matured, rather less so. It could be a hybrid of it though - it is quite an enthusiastic self-seeder so may hybridise
    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • madeleineholmesDfbqbVyKmadeleineholmesDfbqbVyK Posts: 1
    I also thought 1. was either Herb Robert or palmatum / maderense. I read in a geranium book the way to tell the difference but have now forgotten. Agree 2. looks like a sanguineum, 3. Looks like maderense / palmatum, and I would say 4. in your top set of pictures is a type of oxonianum or endressii,  with pink flowers. However your later two pictures I'm sure are from a further type, I.e. not the same plant as in the earlier photo. My garden is full of crosses, I've had nodosum which has very different leaf shape, but I've never seen this shape before. I thought nodosum had blue-mauve flowers, not pink. New ones are always cropping up so my knowledge of them is a bit outdated now!
  • paulstevpaulstev Posts: 7
    Thanks for your responses. Just to be clear, the plant shown in the most recent photos is definitely the same plant as shown in photo 4 in my first post. I agree though that the leaves look more divided as the plant has aged and grown. I've posted another couple of photos below in case they help.

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