Beechgrove Garden

[mark smyth]

I saw a very common mistake on The Beechgrove Garden last night which only helps the mistake keep going on.

The Geranium in the problem garden wasnt Johnsons Blue. It's Geranium x Magnificum.

Three Geraniums are confused and commonly seen in garden centres and gardens and misnamed. These are G. himalayense, G. x Magnificum and the real G. 'Johnson's Blue'

[Brian Ellis]

...and how do we tell them apart Mark?

[mark smyth]

Like this ...

G. himalayense
G. 'Johnson's Blue' (himalayense x pratense)
G. x Magnificum (ibericum x platypetalum)

[Graham Catlow]

Mark,
I too have seen blue geraniums called 'Johnson's Blue' when they quite clearly aren't. I can identify it when I see it.
I have a bank of blue geraniums that I have been unable to identify until now. Thanks for the guide. I have Geranium x magnificum.

[FrazerHenderson]

Graham ..and I have 'Johnson's Blue' though it is more of a mauve tinge than a true blue (though Johnson's bluey-mauve wouldn't have had the same ring to it).

Thanks Mark for identification - can you advise on the colour of the filaments as I have two plants which have same leaf and colour as Johnson's Blue but one has white and the other pink filaments.

[Brian Ellis]

Thanks Mark, I will have to look in the morning.

[mark smyth]

Happy to help Graham

Frazer do you have a photo of your Johnson's Blue? Unfortunately I no longer grow JB because it flowers only once so I cant look for you

[Brian Ellis]

I think then that I have Johnson's Blue, the colour is, of course much more vivid.

[mark smyth]

No, it's x Magnificum with it's furry leaves but it could be one of the named selections.

[Brian Ellis]

B8&&8r, oh well, thanks for the identification anyway Mark, at least I know what that one is now.

[mark smyth]

Brian I'll go to a neighbours garden and see how variable the flowers are. Yours a spaces while my plant has fuller flowers

[John85]

Spotted that too and I think the potentilla wasn't Red Ace neither.(luckily as it is not a strong grower)
Looked more like Sunset.What is your guess?

[mark smyth]

  I didn't notice the Potentilla

[ashley]

Like this ...

G. himalayense
G. 'Johnson's Blue' (himalayense x pratense)
G. x Magnificum (ibericum x platypetalum)

Thanks Mark.  Very clear & helpful.

Brian I'll go to a neighbours garden and see how variable the flowers are. Yours a spaces while my plant has fuller flowers

My x magnificum is the (usual ?) fuller form too, distinct from yours Brian.

[daveyp1970]

This is my Magnificum but being a hybrid there's going to be some variation.I must say it's one of my favourites.