spring Geraniums

[mark smyth]

I should have shown these before now but forgot. These are mid May flowering Geraniums and all except Kirsty are tuberous and summer dormant

libani x peloponnesiacum
peloponnesiacum
traversale
tuberosum

[maggiepie]

Thanks for posting these, Mark.
I always enjoy looking at hardy geraniums.
I like them all but Kirsty is very special.
Haven't seen it before.

[mark smyth]

Helen she is new and as far as I know not available - yet

[zephirine]

'Kirsty' is lovely indeed, Mark, I agree!
It looks somehow like a purple-veined 'Kashmir White', which has pink veins, whereas 'Kashmir Green' has green veins.
It would be a lovely companion to complete a trio!
Is it of clarkei parentage? Or pratense, maybe?
Thanks for posting about it, anyway. I'll certainly be looking for it when it's available!

[Ragged Robin]

What a lovely spring Geranium collection Mark - never too late to post!

Kirsty is a real beauty, lucky you!

[Paul T]

Excellent pics, both of you.  Thanks.

[mark smyth]

That's the first time I have seen Kashmir Green. Very nice

I think Kirsty is a hybrid between Geranium ? and either himalayense or clarkei.

I have a new phaeum also. It's called Green Ghost because of the leaves.

[mark smyth]

This is Kirsty's leaf

[maggiepie]

It might eventually make its way across the seas Mark, one can live in hope.
Really like the leaves on the new phaeum, would really brighten up a dark corner.

Zephirine, I love your Kashmir Green, does it stay compact like the white ?
Mine have stayed compact in their second year, I hope they stay like it.

[zephirine]

I don't have a sure answer for you, Helen: my 'Kashmir Green' is surrounded by other perennials like irises, eryngium yuccifolium , peony, etc...so that it would remain compact even if it didn't feel like it!
It has bloomed profusely in 2008 and 2009, but this year was poor, as it has been for a number of other plants, following a longer and colder winter than they are used to.
I only hope it doesn't mean that it is short-lived! I love it...
'Kashmir White' is planted in an apparently difficult situation, in a very compact soil. But this situation is on the "less-poorly-drained" side of my garden. I had already lost it twice before I found this place where it seems to be OK, though a weaker plant than KG. Same behaviour this year, poor foliage and flowers.
I think both plants require a good drainage, and KW even more than KG...

[maggiepie]

Zephirine, if the Kashmir plants are short lived it would explain why so many people seem to lose their plants.
At least if you know they are you can prepare and start some seedlings to replace them.
I had seen that the Kashmir geraniums were only hardy to zone6 and above.  I'm zone 4b and both of mine survived winter nicely.
Am hoping that wasn't just because we had a milder winter than usual. They did have a lot of snow cover for most of winter but my beds are raised so drainage is pretty good.
I would hate to lose mine, I really love the flowers.