Who likes Geranium phaeum?

Cambridgerose12

I only ever tried ‘Samobor’ in a previous garden and it didn’t enthuse me—the plants always seemed to vanish into dinge and the foliage looked shabby. My mother had Geranium phaeum ‘Album’, which I found OK but the flowers were small. But I’ve been having another look more recently and exploring other varieties. To date ‘Lily Lovell’ remains my favourite: very fresh green foliage and a really long flowering period from the second half of April into June. The flowers are an amazingly rich Tyrian purple and twice as large as ‘Samobor’, so they make quite an effect. Plus it seems to go well with so many things, from copper foliage to lemon yellow, pink or blue. I have it in a pot and move it around, though I like it with Saruma Henry I. It’s almost sterile, which may explain the long flowering season.

Last year I put in three more varieties to trial. ‘Margaret Wilson’ has yellow variegated leaves and flowers of a purple like ‘Lily’. ‘Waterer’s Blue’ is palest China blue, really beautiful under my yellow rose ‘Danaë’. The pick of the bunch is ‘Wendy’s Blush’ whose flowers start out almost beige but then turn rose pink with a dark eye. This year’s weakness? ‘Lavender Pinwheel’: lavender flowers and bronze-marked leaves which works perfectly behind the merging shoots of a paeony.

Woodgreen

Thank you @Cambridgerose12 for this information. I've always liked the form of geranium phaeum and the fact that it doesn't spread too aggressively but it's too easy to miss the flowers, they are so dull as you say, especially in shade.
I'll be having a look at the varieties you mention, probably adding one or two to a lengthening wish list!

nutcutlet

I like it a lot, I've tried the pink and the white but they haven't survived long (probably my fault). It goes well in a wild woodland garden like mine.
Saruma Henry 1, rather appeals to me

Fairygirl

I like the colour of phaeum but the best spots for it would mean it just disappears.
I like the look of Lily Lovell. I don't like pastel colours, so many of the hardy geraniums are out for me. 
I have G. renardii, which is very pretty, but the flowering period is short. I expect in other areas there would be a 2nd flush, but it doesn't happen here. The foliage is nice though. 

Topbird

Hardy geraniums are one of the main players in my garden. I particularly like the foliage of G. phaeum Samobor - especially in a narrow shadier bed where I get to see the foliage close up. The deep dark colour of the flowers are more noticeable when it's grown in large clumps and one of my favourite combination is growing it alongside Brunnera Jack Frost. The silver leaves of the brunnera help to show up the colours of the geranium and the clear blue and dark magenta flowers look good together.

I also like G phaeum Alba grown under large shrubs.

This year I managed to acquire the Beth Chatto sport - G phaeum Misty Samobor. It has the characteristic leaf markings of Samobor but the flowers (I hope!) are various tones of white, shell pink and lilac (you'd probably hate it @Fairygirl 😁). Looking forward to it blooming in a few weeks.

I like the foliage of Margaret Wilson but the plants just disappeared (probably due to drought). I may try it again in a more suitable border.

JennyJ

I had G. Phaeum (one of the dark ones, can't remember which) but I found it a bit meh. The flowers were quite dull and insignificant, the foliage was coarse and a bit floppy, and it did tend to spread more than I liked. Maybe it enjoyed my dry sandy soil. I think there's still some tucked away in the corner but I got rid of most of it.

Obelixx

I like it.  The dark splodge of purple on teh foliage is attractive and pollinators love the flowers.  

I use it as ground cover in shady spots and it works well for me.  It's a good foil for other plants too.  I have some around the feet of a cotinus coggygria where it picks up the purple foliage but also at the feet of very old stone walls where it contrasts well with the stone and helps keep down weeds.  A very useful plant.

Woodgreen

Topbird said:

one of my favourite combination is growing it alongside Brunnera Jack Frost. The silver leaves of the brunnera help to show up the colours of the geranium and the clear blue and dark magenta flowers look good together.

Going to try this!
Thank you @Topbird

Fairygirl

No - I'd hate that @Topbird
Pastel colours generally look rubbish in our climate, as opposed to white, which is sharp and stands out, especially in shade. Strong colours are much better.
I really dislike blue, especially that light blue, so the brunnera wouldn't work for me either. 
The dark geraniums need something bright behind them though. Anything with strong green foliage, or yellowy/creamy foliage. 

GardenerSuze

I love soft blue flowers with dark maroon flowers or leaves. I grow G phaum Lily Lovell which fills a difficult area under a tree.

Topbird

I have had G phaeum Samobor flowering at the same time as Alchemilla Mollis and they look good together when the Alchemilla has the newest, freshest limey-green frothy flowers just opening.

It is, however, a happy accident when that happens - the phaeums are usually coming to an end when the alchemillas are kicking off. I usually get a second flush from phaeum Samobor if I cut it back as soon as the first flowers start going over. Other phaeums are less reliable in this respect - but that might just be where they are in my garden.

@Fairygirl - guessing you wouldn't like Geranium Mrs Kendall Clarke then? That's a lovely steely grey-blue. It's one of my favourite geranium colours but the floppy growth habit can really wind me up unless I remember to put some twiggy pea sticks in.

We probably both love G. magnificum 'Rosemoor' - such rich deep violet flowers - absolutely gorgeous - shame it's a one flush plant.