Johnson’s Blue Geranium Plant Care Instructions
- Give the plants full sun and well-draining soil.
- In the summer, give the blue geranium plants regular watering.
- Cut back on watering established plants.
- During the winter, skip the waterings.
- In the spring, add fertilizer.
- In the summer, prune the geraniums.
- Continue Weeding.
- Cut the geraniums in half.
Are blue geraniums contagious?
Johnson’s Blue, one of the most well-liked blue-flowered geraniums, grows into dense, spreading mounds of neatly cut leaves that are covered in a profusion of big clusters of 2 in. (5 cm) wide, saucer-shaped, sky blue flowers from late spring to July. Compact and with lovely foliage that lasts the entire growing season, it functions well as low ground cover. It makes a lovely contrast in the fall when it turns ostentatious red and gold.
- Winner of the esteemed Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit
- This robust, clump-forming deciduous perennial grows 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) tall and spreads 24–30 inches wide (60-75 cm). This resilient performer is free of pests and diseases, easy to grow, and requires very little maintenance.
- performs best on average, medium moisture, well-drained soils, in full sun or partial shade. like organic, wet soils. Once established, it can withstand drought and is appealing to butterflies but unattractive to deer and rabbits.
- It is a stunning addition to beds, borders, cottage gardens, rock gardens, underplanting roses and shrubs, or containers, and makes a superb edging plant. It is the ideal border plant.
- A hybrid of Geranium himalayense and Geranium pratense is known as Geranium “Johnson’s Blue.”
invasive Johnson’s blue geranium
Hardy geranium “Johnson’s Blue” is also referred to as a cranesbill geranium. But compared to some of the other hardy geraniums in my garden, Johnson’s Blue is not as aggressive or self-seeding. It also has longer blooms.
It blooms from late spring through the summer and has a mounding habit. In the fall, the foliage turns hues of orange and crimson.
It is indigenous to China and has long been a cottage gardener favorite. It grows nicely in containers and is a great plant for a loose border. Additionally, the two-inch blue blossoms complement nearly any garden’s color scheme.
Although the blossoms of this plant don’t endure very long, the delicate foliage adds to its attractiveness and makes it attractive as a cut flower and a filler in floral arrangements.
Hardy Geraniums vs. Pelargoniums
Pelargoniums should not be confused with hardy geraniums. You might be wondering what makes a geranium different from a pelargonium. Similar to some siblings, they are both members of the same plant family, but they could not be more unlike.
Pelargoniums cannot withstand frost, while hardy geraniums can. Pelargoniums are usually treated as annuals and replanted each year, but true hardy geraniums are perennials that grow back every year. Pelargoniums die in the winter.
Prune your Hardy Geraniums
Your sturdy geraniums will look their best and promote new growth if you prune them properly. By correctly pruning your hardy geraniums after the blooming season, you can encourage repeat blooming. The majority of geraniums can be cut back twice in a single season, which allows them to bloom at least three times.
When to Prune
Your hardy geraniums should be pruned in accordance with the season you are in. Rozanne will require various cuts in the spring, summer, and fall. To maintain your blooms rich and healthy, mark your calendar and adhere to our seasonal trimming recommendations.
What tools you need
Your geraniums may be pruned fairly easily. All you’ll need is the ability to prune, a pair of sharp pruners, your favorite mulch, and your favorite gardening gloves. Watch this video to learn more about pruning strategies in detail.
How to prune
You shouldn’t be concerned that pruning your flower’s back will harm her. The majority of hardy geraniums require trimming to promote new growth and prevent them from encroaching upon other plants.
Trim the plant back to within a few inches of the ground or to about an inch above the main stem once the flowering is completed or you find old growth. Remove any brown stems or yellow leaves after that by going inside.
Soon after trimming, more leaves will start to appear. Some resilient geraniums even have the ability to blossom again. Maintaining correct pruning on your plants encourages new development and keeps them from spilling out throughout your landscape.
What pruning advice do you prefer? Share them with us in a comment on our Facebook page!
What can I grow beside blue geraniums?
Hardy geraniums are low-growing plants with saucer-shaped flowers that are available in a variety of colors, including white, mauve, pink, and purple. They are great ground cover plants since they come in many types and spread widely. They are a fantastic choice for planting in front of mixed borders or beneath trees and shrubs.
Many plants look wonderful when planted with hardy geraniums because they have a lengthy flowering season and are suitable for most soil types and climates.
The leaf shapes of hardy geraniums are particularly striking and go well with the contrasting foliage. Many are semi-evergreen, and some also change color in the fall. They look great placed beside grasses, taller flowering plants, and other similar-flowering but different-in-form and structure plants like hebes.
Feverfew
When mixed with blue-flowered geraniums, feverfew’s delicate, straightforward daisy blossoms give an informal, natural appearance. It would work well as a border for a cottage garden-style planting bed and is the ideal mixture for luring pollinators. The daisy-like blossoms Erigeron karvinskianus or Anthemis punctata are more options that go well with geraniums.
Tellima grandiflora
With low-growing leaves that forms large clusters, Tellima grandiflora has a habit resembling geraniums. On large branches, nevertheless, its delicate blossoms emerge above the leaves. It is especially effective when used with Geranium phaeum “Mourning widow” (pictured). The Tellima blooms’ greenish-yellow color stands in contrast to the dark geranium flowers. Both plants do best in a semi-shaded area, such as the border of a forest or beneath a small tree or shrub.
Aquilegia vulgaris
Early summer blooming aquilegias thrive in conditions that many geraniums do, thus they will naturally colonize with them. Geraniums’ simple open flowers contrast well with the characteristic nodding, bonnet-like flowers. Here, the pale pink aquilegia flowers on dark stems contrast well with the magenta pink of the Geranium psilostemon.
Nectaroscordum
Nectaroscordum siculum’s lovely pink bell-shaped flowers grow in loose umbels and are best suited for gravel gardens or sunny borders. It attracts pollinators and pairs well with geraniums in an environment that is favorable to animals. It is placed here alongside a white Geranium phaeum.
Luzula
The velvety leaves of geraniums contrasts beautifully with the coarseness of grasses. Geranium “Johnsons Blue” enhances the fresh, lively appearance of the evergreen Luzula nivea. Hakonechloa and Millium effusum ‘Aureum’ are two other grasses that would thrive in a similar semi-shady environment.
Ferns
The shade-tolerant geraniums contrast beautifully with the ferns’ delicate, bright green fronds. Select smaller fern species, such as the compact Dryopteris affinis ‘Crispa Gracilis’. Alternately, consider taller, arching species like Dryopteris affinis, which will appear above a mat of geraniums with slower growth.
Geraniums
Geraniums can look beautiful planted with other geraniums because there are so many different shades and kinds to pick from. In this picture, the lovely blue Geranium magnificum perfectly contrasts with the white type.
Acer palmatum
Hardy geraniums that thrive in the shade are ideal for planting beneath trees. To create a stunning contrast between the leaves and the blossoms rising from below, pick a tiny decorative tree. The lower branches of this ruby-leaved Acer palmatum, gently brush the tops of the flowers of the pink cranesbill. The acer’s dark, sharply defined palmate leaves contrast favorably with the looser geranium foliage.
What does the geranium represent?
The geranium flower represents friendship, happiness, and good health. With the exception of the Victorian image of idiocy or foolishness, they are connected to pleasant feelings. This ancient symbolism has essentially been forgotten because people now view this cheerful flower as a sign of joyous thoughts and feelings.
Common Geranium Flower Colors and their Meaning & Symbolism
The color of a geranium bloom can also have an impact on its significance. There is a vast variety to pick from when trying to send a message, with blooms ranging from white and pastel pinks to vivid colours of orange and red and even exquisite shades of blue and purple.
In addition to the conventional meanings of flower colors, some colored geraniums have unique meanings of their own.
- Red geraniums: These plants are regarded as protecting. A red geranium near the front door is said to alert you to outsiders’ approaches in Wiccan lore.
- White geraniums: It was believed that white geraniums had snake-repelling properties. They served as a fertility symbol as well.
- Pink geraniums: These flowers were treasured as a component of love spells.
Otherwise, while selecting geraniums as a present, think about the significance of the flower’s hue.
- Yellow: Flowers in this color convey a message of happiness and lightheartedness. They represent happiness and camaraderie.
What hues do geraniums have?
In reality, the “geranium” does not belong to the Geranium family. An evergreen perennial shrub is referred to as a “geranium” by gardeners and botanists. The fact that specialists refer to the common summer bloomers we all know and love as “pelargoniums” only serves to further confuse matters.
Since the first pelargoniums were introduced to Europe in the 17th century and were mistakenly dubbed geraniums because of their resemblance to the perennial plant, the word geranium has been in use ever since!
Geraniums in a single color can be planted; however, because of the enormous range of colors, you can design a very unique look.
For a darker display, consider the deepest shades of burgundy or purple, or lilac for a vibrant pop of unorthodox color. If white flowers appeal to you, consider a white variety with a pink or crimson accent in the petals. For a traditional appearance, combine with trailing ivy.
Edible scented geranium parts include the leaves and flowers. Because of the essential oils in their leaves, they enhance the flavor and scent of meat dishes, salads, and desserts in addition to adding visual elements.
It is possible to transform an old wooden chair into a unique hanging shelf on which the flowering geranium can shine.
Just separate an old wooden chair into its component parts, cut a hole through the middle of the seat, and fasten the front half to the backrest with screws so that the saw edge points backward. The chair should next be painted or sprayed, hung, and embellished with a potted geranium and other ornamental items.
The regal geranium in particular complements contemporary decor and was first cultivated as a houseplant.
To achieve a tonal effect, choose hues of the same color that range from light to dark. Geraniums come in a variety of colors—imagine the brightest orange fading to the palest tangerine, or the deepest hot pink fading to the palest blush. A sense of depth and visual intrigue are created by using various shades of the same color.
Some geraniums offer medicinal properties in addition to being merely ornamental. The indigenous people of South Africa employed the roots of the Cape region pelargonium to cure respiratory illnesses, and they are now a key component of the herbal treatment “Umckaloabo.” It is also said that the essential oils in some varieties of scented geraniums can reduce stress and despair.
Several scent-leaved geraniums have essential oils in their leaves that can effectively repel insects. These plants exude their fragrance at the least wind or contact. What may smell good to us humans will frighten away bees, wasps, and other insects. Geraniums with citrusy scents, like lemon and orange, work best as insect repellents.
With this creative DIY upcycling idea, you can eat outside beneath a canopy of flowers. Hang potted geraniums that require no maintenance by stringing jute string through old bicycle wheels and fastening it to a pergola or other similar structure.
Geraniums are most commonly associated with the vivid red or white balcony boxers. The geranium, however, comes in a wide range of hues, leaf and flower sizes, shapes, and growth types. In addition to red and white, they also bloom in a broad variety of other colors, including pink, violet, lilac, apricot, orange, and yellow, as well as a variety of bicolor variations.
Geraniums are incredibly low maintenance, simple to care for, and hardy, making them the perfect plant for people who don’t have the time or don’t want to spend a lot of time taking care of their plants. With little time and work, even people without a green thumb may create a lovely flower arrangement.
Why not hang some used bicycle wheels from your fence or wall? a lovely way to show off vibrant flower pots. Simply using wire, the pots are connected to the spokes. Geraniums of various colors that are in bloom create a magnificent floral show.
Geraniums can grow to record-breaking sizes with proper care. Even tales of specimens with purported heights of five meters or circumferences more than ten meters have surfaced. I doubt it for your typical window box, then.
Geraniums can start to bloom as early as May, but you shouldn’t plant these delicate plants outside until the last frost has passed. Similar to how geraniums, despite continuing to bloom far into autumn, are not frost resilient, therefore move plants into a bright, frost-free spot before the temperature lowers at night.
Geraniums in a hanging planter would make a lovely balcony display. All you need are two round wooden poles and connecting parts, two terracotta pots with saucers, glue, rope, and upright or trailing geraniums.
One of the few summer bedding plants that slugs and snails mostly ignore is the pelargonium. Pelargoniums’ bushy foliage may conceal molluscs, but these plant destroyers don’t like their robust stems and thick, meaty leaves.
Place your geraniums in a tall, narrow-footprint plant stand to add height and character to your balcony. This is the best way to show off the stunning cascade of trailing geraniums.
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