NOT Geranium Mrs. Kendall Clark!

Nollie

I recently ordered x4 of this variety for it’s steely lavender flowers. One has just flowered and annoyingly, it looks like they have sent the wrong one(s), some sort of double form. Anyone any ideas what it is?

flower:


foliage (bit blurry, sorry):

Busy-Lizzie

It's a Geranium Plenum, possibly "Summer Skies". I think it's very pretty. I ordered one during the first lockdown but it was tiny when it arrived and it died 

GardenerSuze

@Nollie That is annoying. I would much prefer Mrs Kenndall Clark. Yes I think it could be Summer Skies. I have never had much success with the doubles they seem to give up after one or two years. I purchased a white double G pratense Laura last year no sign of it this year. I have given up.

Nollie

That was quick, many thanks @Busy-Lizzie. I’m sure you are right, just looked it up on the supplier’s website and they do stock it. All their plants seem good quality and are growing away well, but it’s more pink than lavender/blue and I really didn’t want pink! I will have to go into battle with them to send me replacement plants, sigh..

nutcutlet

the leaves look like pratense rather than phaeum. a graceful plant uglified (is that a word?)

Nollie

I agree Mrs. KC is much nicer @GardenerSuze and @nutcutlet (yes pratense 😊) and chosen carefully with the help of forum members so as not to be pink or have any hint of pink! I have looked at the double forms before, but having now seen one in the flesh I’m not so keen, lost all essence of being a geranium, I think.

nutcutlet

Nollie said:

I agree Mrs. KC is much nicer @GardenerSuze and @nutcutlet (yes pratense 😊) and chosen carefully with the help of forum members so as not to be pink or have any hint of pink! I have looked at the double forms before, but having now seen one in the flesh I’m not so keen, lost all essence of being a geranium, I think.

I agree, without the leaves I don't think I would have recognised it as Geranium

GardenerSuze

Is there is a particular problem with the double forms. Can other forum members keep them going I wonder?

Woodgreen

I do have a double form of g.himalyense. It has never formed a clump, but wandered about and sent up the odd flower or two. 
I removed it when sorting the area out but it's still there and last year flowered quite nicely. It's in a dry, sunny spot at the foot of the house wall.
It's nothing to write home about, but I had to smile when it was still there last year and flowering. 
Sorry about the poor quality of the photo.

Busy-Lizzie

I really liked Summer Skies when I saw it in a garden I visited, don't mind whether it looks like a geranium or not, but it was pinker than the name implies. Didn't replace it when mine died as that's the 2nd time I've lost a double one.

BlueBirder

I've seen Summer Skies in a friend's garden and thought the flowers pretty. Was surprised when I saw the foliage and realised it was a geranium. If I forget it's a geranium, I quite like the double blooms - but agree it doesn't really look like a 'geranium'. Hope you can get your replacement plants @Nollie!