Geranium Patricia
Geranium Patricia
Growing the hardy Geranium Patricia in the back garden of our new Fife home has given rather surprising results.
The picture above of the Geranium Patricia was taken on the first of October.
What has really surprised me is the very long flowering period, we have had this plant in our other gardens and flowering ended in late August. Have you had Patricia still blooming in October?
By no stretch of the imagination can I claim that it has been the result of a glorious Summer, in fact, it has been cool, windy and wet, with a pleasant day now and again.
Enough of the moaning, especially when I consider what people have had to endure across the Atlantic.
Geranium Patricia in our garden
This hardy Geranium has been in flower since the third week of June and is still looking pretty good in October.
Other perennials planted in early Spring have behaved in a similar way.
The annual plants, such as Begonia, Dahlia and Lobelia will have to reluctantly be removed to make way for Spring flowering bulbs.
Perhaps the good results are all to do with the quality of the topsoil placed by the builders, although, with new build houses they are not normally very fussy regarding this.
Anyway, I did dig it over in early April adding plenty good quality garden compost.
I planted three of the Geranium Patricia in the back garden. The habit has been good and support for the plants have not been necessary. The Persicaria to the right has also been non-stop.
Details
The numerous flowers are a magenta pink with a black centre, and are held above the mound of large deeply cut mid-green leaves.
Patricia received the RHS award of garden merit in 2005. Bred in the Orkney islands by Alan Bremner in 1992. Crossed with, (Geranium endressii x Geranium psilostemon)
Height — between 60/75cm – 70cm in our garden (sunny spot)
Hardiness — fully hardy perennial – Orkney breeding is a clue
Position — full sun/partial shade
Soil — any reasonable garden soil on the moist side – neutral to acidic
Propagation — lift and divide in early Spring
Footnote
Had I done a little research before starting this post I would have discovered that the long flowering period of Patricia is well documented.
However I am an amateur gardener, and yes I normally carry out a little research for the more technical details which I require. However, the main purpose of my plant profiles is directed to those who have just caught the gardening bug, simply to give some indication as to how plants perform for the everyday gardener like myself. My day is made when a visitor to my blog finds the tiniest inspiration which makes them want to continue gardening.
After two years my A to Z list of plants is now complete. It will continue to be extended with new posts for as long as I am able to do so.
© 2017 – 2018, Alistair. All rights reserved.
Hi Allistair.
We have a similar Geranium in our Garden named Psilostemon but that is normally finished by the end of August .The long flowering time of Patricia is a real bonus .Thanks for sharing it with us .
Hi David, Psilostemon is indeed one of the parent plants of Patricia.
Sorry Alistair ,I should have Read your whole Blog then I would have saw it was Related to Psilostemon !!!
Your photos are a welcome oasis, Alastair! Very beautiful and refreshing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Always pleased to see you visit Linda.
Oh very nice! I do love finding out about plants with a long blooming time – I’m always looking for those!
Finding perennials with a long flowering period makes you able to cut down on the annuals
A to Z is complete – what an achievement!
You have me yearning for my previous rose garden.
Its taken me some time Diana.
Congratulations on completing your A-Z! This looks like an excellent cross. I love G. psilostemon, and although some of my plants are still flowering, they account for about 15% of them. The rest are looking pretty sad so I will give ‘Patricia’ a whirl. Thank you!
Hope it does as well for you Sarah
Preaching to the converted here Alistair, geraniums are amongst my favourite plants they are just so versatile thriving in sun or even deep shade depending on the one you choose. Many of mine are still flowering despite having been battered by rain and wind all “summer”, as good a factor as any for you to be happy to have moved to the east of the country away from here.
Hi Rick, last Winter and Spring here in Fife was dry and relatively mild. Summer arrived and we probably had as much rain as you did. Never mind, enthusiasm remains high.
Hello Alistair, that geranium looks amazing, especially since most other plants are fading. We don’t have geraniums in the garden but there are gaps in the borders where I can see that a geranium or two would fit perfectly. This one is definitely for the shopping list.
Hard to go wrong with Geraniums, Sunil.
I enjoy it when people find out things by their own experience rather than by looking them up on line alone. It’s more dynamic. And in my own life, I gain a great deal of joy from discovering for the first time masses of things which millions of people have already known for hundreds, if not thousands of years.
Thanks for dropping by Lucy. I also enjoy finding out stuff by personal experience, mind you a helping hand for the beginner is often appreciated.
I don’t have ‘Patricia’ but ‘Rozanne’ blooms longer than any other plant I grow. It’s still going strong in my garden despite our extreme summer weather. I suspect the compost you gave your little beauty, was instrumental in extending it’s bloom time. I’m not a new gardener, Alistair, but you always inspire me! P. x
Thanks, Pam, you are very kind. Rozanne is yet another plant which I must have, going to be a lot of container grown ones in this garden.