Geranium pratense 'Mrs Kendall Clark'
meadow cranesbill
- Position: full sun or partial shade
- Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Flowering period: May to June
- Hardiness: fully hardy
Pearl-grey, saucer-shaped flowers, with pale grey stripes on the petals appear in summer among finely cut mid-green leaves. This exquisite meadow cranesbill is one of the tallest and most vigorous hardy geraniums. It is ideal for the front of a sunny border though it can also cope with a fairly shady spot. Try it in a wildflower meadow too, where it can self-seed freely. - Garden care: In midsummer rejuvenate plants that are beginning to look jaded, by removing old flowered stems and leaves. Lift and divide large colonies in spring.
Hemerocallis 'Pink Damask'
daylily
Striking, salmon-pink flowers in midsummer
Astrantia major 'Rubra'
masterwort
Gorgeous plum-coloured flowers
Allium sphaerocephalon
round-headed leek / round-headed garlic
Small, wine-coloured flowers on tall stems
How to get more flowers
Many flowering plants can be encouraged to produce better and longer-lasting displays with the minimum of effort. A plant produces flowers in order to reproduce and ensure the survival of the species. Once a plant has flowered and fertilisation has...
Read full articleHardy geraniums
Hardy geraniums, commonly called cranesbills, are the stalwarts of a garden – they grow without fuss and bother, they flower reliably and without the gaudy excess of other garden premadonnas. For this reason, they are often overlooked as things of...
Read full articleGet more flowers
Deadheading will prevent them setting seed and so use their energy producing a further flush of blooms later on. Plants that respond well to deadheading include annuals such as Ageratum, Alyssum, Antirrhinum, Calendula, Centaurea, Cosmos, Dahlia, foxglove, Californian poppy, sweet...
Read full articleChelsea Chop and other methods of extending the flowering season
Many gardeners who are happy, even gung-ho, with the secateurs when pruning shrubs and climbers are surprisingly reluctant to take the shears to herbaceous perennials. Maybe this is because it just doesn’t seem quite right to be cutting back all...
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An upright cranesbill with lilac-blue flowers heavily veined in lighter silver grey - a shimmering acquisition - and a real presence in summer
Val Bourne - Garden Writer