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.
Thats fantastic, it had been a young plant but was determined to make enough growth to bloom in its first year. Next year it will bloom in it normal time, good long flowering period.
I have just read your article, having Googled whether Patricia can bloom in winter. I bought a plant in early summer in memory of my old friend Patricia who sadly passed away. The plant lay fairly dormant during summer but flowered late October and is looking really good still in November.
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.
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 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 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.
Hard to go wrong with Geraniums, Sunil.
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.
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.
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.
Hope it does as well for you Sarah
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!
Its taken me some time Diana.
A to Z is complete – what an achievement!
You have me yearning for my previous rose garden.
Finding perennials with a long flowering period makes you able to cut down on the annuals
Oh very nice! I do love finding out about plants with a long blooming time – I’m always looking for those!
Hi David, Psilostemon is indeed one of the parent plants of Patricia.
Always pleased to see you visit Linda.
Your photos are a welcome oasis, Alastair! Very beautiful and refreshing. Thank you so much for sharing.
Sorry Alistair ,I should have Read your whole Blog then I would have saw it was Related to Psilostemon !!!
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 .