Consider planting a colorful array of low shrubs, perennials, annuals, ground covers and spring bulbs with hostas. Additions must prefer partial sun to shade and moderate moist soil. Choose varieties with brightly colored foliage, structure, size, texture and color for contrast. Avoid aggressive vegetative companions. Hosta companions can include anemone, assorted ferns, astilbe, lenten roses (Helleborus), […]
Archive for the ‘Cranesbill (Geranium)’ Category
Hosta Garden Companions
Posted by Hugh on August 7th, 2024
Posted in acidic soil, Aralia 'Sun King', Astilbe (false spirea), Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, Bergenia (pigsqueak), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Bugleweed (Ajuga), Butterflies, Carex (Sedges), Cranesbill (Geranium), Dead nettle (Lamium), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Ferns, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Heuchera (coralbells), Hosta, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uvularia (bellwort), watering tips, winter hardiness, Woodland phlox 
Comments Off on Hosta Garden CompanionsCranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)
Posted by Hugh on February 19th, 2024
Cranesbills (Geranium spp.) comprise a large genus of super hardy herbaceous perennials. (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). These are not your annual geraniums which is the genus Pelargonium. They grow happily in partial sun to full shade and in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Cranesbills tolerate full sun in cool northerly areas. Plants may produce fewer flowers in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips Comments Off on Cranesbills (Hardy Geraniums)Planting Under Trees
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2023
Here is an idea that I picked up at Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, Pennsylvania and pollinators will also love you for it. When planting a deciduous tree, make good use of the ground area beneath the tree by planting shade tolerant ground covers. Evergreen trees don’t work here. You can also create a beautiful planting […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Carex (Sedges), Cranesbill (Geranium), Dead nettle (Lamium), Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ferns, Ground cover, Hakone grass, Hellebores, Heuchera (coralbells), Heucherella (foamy bells), Hosta, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Pulmonaria, Purchasing Plants, Sedum (Groundcover types), Shade Gardening, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Sweet flag (Acorus), Tiarella (foam flower), Trout lily (Erythronium), Twinleaf (Jeffersonia), Virginia bluebell (Mertensia), watering tips, Winter aconite (Eranthis) Comments Off on Planting Under TreesBigroot Cranesbill
Posted by Hugh on September 10th, 2022
Bigroot Cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum) is a favorite, easy to grow plant that forms a dense weed-resistant ground cover with attractive foliage and flowers. (USDA zones 4 – 8). This “cranesbill” is a true perennial geranium. It is a rhizomatous semi-evergreen perennial, native to southern Europe, typically grows to 12 inches tall and to 24 inches or […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bee Favorite, Cold tolerance, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Landscape ideas, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bigroot CranesbillDeer Resistant Perennials
Posted by Hugh on August 11th, 2021
Most deer-resistant plants share several traits or characteristics: 1. Aromatic flowers / foliage; 2. thorny, bristly, or hairy (pubescent) leaves or stems; 3. toxic plants. If “deer pressure” (population) is exceptionally high, deer don’t heed plant lists like this one. Available food resources, species of deer, seasonal weather are all factors. Flowers, foliage, fruits, and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amsonia (blue star), Artemisia, Aster, Astilbe (false spirea), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Baptisia (wild indigo), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Blazing star (Liatris), Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Bugleweed (Ajuga), Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Calamagrostis, Calamint, Columbine (Aquilegia), Compass Plant (Silphium), Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Coreopsis, Coreopsis 'Gold Standard, Cranesbill (Geranium), Crocosmia (Montbretia), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Echinops (Globe thistles), Eupatorium 'Gateway', Evening primrose (Oenothera), Filipendula, Flower Arranging, Foxglove (Digitalis), Gaura, Goldenrod (Solidago), Hellebores, Iris (Tall bearded), Landscape ideas, Lavender (Lavandula), Liatris, Ligularias, Liriope, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Ostrich fern (Matteuccia), Pennisetum spp., Penstemon, Peony, Perennials, Pests, Planting tips, Platycodon (Balloon flower), Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Rodgersia, Rosemary, Rosinweed (Silphinum), Rudbeckia 'Herbstonne', Russian sage (Perovskia), Shade Gardening, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Tennessee Coneflower, White Wood Aster (Eurybia) Comments Off on Deer Resistant PerennialsSix Easy Perennials To Grow
Posted by Hugh on June 1st, 2020
Rozanne (‘Gerwalt’) Cranesbill (Geranium X ‘Rozanne’) – low growing flowering groundcover that forms a 20 inch tall by 24 inch wide mound; blooms almost non-stop from mid-spring to early fall. For a cranesbill, its 5-petaled, violet-blue flowers are huge (2.5 inches wide) with off-white centers; in bloom from late spring to early summer. (Zones 5-8). […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Alliums (onion), Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deciduous, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Platycodon (Balloon flower), Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Sage (Salvia), Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Easy Perennials To GrowSix Perennials For Dry Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 6th, 2020
Many of the following perennials tolerate dry shade but flourish in moist, well-drained soil. Each typically displays the richest foliage colors with a couple of hours of direct sunlight a day. All hold up well to dry conditions and are deer and rabbit resistant. Barrenworts (aka Bishop’s cap, Fairy Wings) (Epimedium spp.) represent over 70 […]
Posted in acidic soil, Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bee Favorite, Bees and other pollinators, Bugleweed (Ajuga), Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Geranium, Ground cover, Hellebores, Landscape ideas, Lenten rose (Hellebore), Liriope, mulching, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Sacred Lily (Rohdea), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Six Perennials For Dry ShadeFavorites For The Shade
Posted by Hugh on March 23rd, 2018
Here are ten of my favorite perennial plants for shady areas (USDA hardiness zones 4-7). All prosper in 1-2 hours of early morning sunlight and in humus-rich, moist, well-drained soil. Mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds. Hosta – unquestionably the shade favorite of U.S. gardeners. A low maintenance plant that returns every spring with lush […]
Posted in acidic soil, Astilbe (false spirea), Attracting Butterflies, Autumn fern (Dryopteris), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra), Brunnera 'Jack Frost', Bugbane (Actae), Container garden, Cranesbill (Geranium), deadheading, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall Garden Interest, Ferns, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Solomon's seal, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Tiarella (foam flower), watering iris, winter hardiness Comments Off on Favorites For The ShadeFifteen Garden Perennials Which You Can’t Kill (Or Almost)
Posted by Hugh on February 26th, 2018
Here is a list of flowering perennials that need little care after planting. Ornamental grasses and ferns are not listed here. One steadfast rule that you must follow if this group of plants are to work for you: “choose the right plant for the right site”. Shady plants in full sun and terrestrial plants in swampy ground […]
Posted in acidic soil, Astilbe (false spirea), Baptisia (wild indigo), Barrenwort (Epimedium), Bees and other pollinators, Beneficial insects, Container growing, Coreopsis, Cranesbill (Geranium), Daylilies, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Ground cover, Heat Tolerance, Hellebores, Italian arum, Landscape ideas, Liriope, mulching, Native Plant, Nepeta (catmint), Ornamental Grasses, Peony, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Russian sage (Perovskia), Siberian iris (I. sibirica), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Stonecrop sedums, Summer flowering, Variegated Solomon Seal, watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Fifteen Garden Perennials Which You Can’t Kill (Or Almost)Planting A Rock
Posted by Hugh on October 17th, 2017
A well placed landscape rock or boulder is a perfect garden feature. Planted properly, the boulder appears to emerge naturally from the bowels of the earth. The crowning achievement is when mosses and lichens find a home in its crevices or when vines crawl over them. Boulders may exhibit seams of color(s), deep crevices, and/or have jagged or rounded edges. Is […]
Posted in Cranesbill (Geranium), Ferns, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Heuchera (coralbells), Landscape Construction, Landscape ideas, Pansies, Perennials, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Sedges (Carex), Sedum, Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Violas Comments Off on Planting A Rock
