Trial of hardy Geranium Stage 2 2003-2005
including G. x oxonianum, G. sanguineum + hybrids and G. psilostemon + hybrids.
An Invited RHS Trial
Objectives: To compare and assess a range of species and cultivars and to recommend the Award of Garden Merit to those considered to be excellent garden plants. To establish correct nomenclature and to obtain herbarium specimens, photographs, and descriptions for the archives held in the RHS Herbarium at Wisley.
Entries: 136 entries were submitted to the trial by various nurseries in the UK, National Collection holders, individuals and private gardens.
Records: A record was made of the date of start and finish of flowering.
Judging: Members of the Floral Trials Sub-committee inspected the trial and recommended the Award of Garden Merit to 13 cultivars (three of which had their AGM reconfirmed) based on the following criteria:
Flower Foliage Habit Length of flowering period
Summary Of Entries that received the Award of
Garden Merit AGM AGM
Geranium 'Anne Thompson' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by and available from Meadow Cottage Plants.
An impressive plant, very good dark magenta flower and foliage colour. Most useful for covering summer dormant plants and bare lower stems of clematis and roses. Flowered from mid May 2005 until the trial was lifted in late October.
Geranium Blue Sunrise 'Blogold' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by and available from Blooms of Bressingham. Neat habit, flowers a bonus complementing the gold foliage which does not burn, but better in partial shade showing up very well. Flowering floriferously from 26 June to mid October
Geranium 'Dilys' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by & available from Meadow Cottage Plants. A useful garden plant having a long flowering season from June to November; great flower power, tidy, very good flower shape.
Geranium 'Ivan' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by and available from Howard Nurseries. Big flowers, plentiful, intense, prettily veined, nice shape, spectacular, floriferous. Flowering prolifically from mid May to mid July, with a second flush from late August to early October.
Geranium 'Patricia' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by and available from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants.
An outstanding hybrid for the summer border. Flowering from late May to late July, cutting back encourages a second flush from late August to the first frosts.
Geranium endressii 'Castle Drogo' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by Catforth Gardens. Neat, compact clump, high flower density, not over vigorous, bright salmon pink. Flowering from mid May to mid October
Geranium x oxonianum 'Beholder's Eye' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by Hellyer's Garden Plants, available from Birchwood Plants.
Compact, tidy, dome shaped plant, lots of flower, good colour and foliage, nothing quite like it. Flowering from late May to the end of September. Geranium sanguineum 'Ankum's Pride' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by and available from Monksilver Nurseries.
Superb, distinctive, vibrant colour, floriferous, compact, ground hugging habit. Flowering from mid May to early August with a later second flush from late August. Geranium sanguineum 'Aviemore' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by Hellyer's Garden Plants, available from Birchwood Plants.
Good rounded habit, floriferous, flowers over long period. Flower held well above foliage. Flowering early May to mid July with a lighter second flush from late August. Geranium sanguineum var. striatum 'Splendens' AGM (H4) 2005 Sent by & available from Rosie's Garden Plants. The best pale pink sanguineum, good ground cover. Flowering mid May to end of July, second flush in August.
The following AGMs were reconfirmed: Geranium 'Ann Folkard' AGM (H4) 1996 reconfirmed 2005. Sent by & available from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants. Prefers some shade, a good scrambling habit intermingling well, climbing shrubs and conifers, covers bare patches. Flowering from late May to early October. Geranium psilostemon AGM (H4) 1993 reconfirmed 2005 Sent by and available from Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants One of the best. Flowering from mid May to late July with a second flush from late August to late October Geranium sanguineum 'Album' AGM (H4) 1993 reconfirmed 2005 Sent by & available from Perryhill Nurseries Ltd.
Upright, neat dark foliage, good contrast against the glistening white flower. The only white sanguineum, pure and clean. Flowering from mid May to mid July with a second flush from early August. Sunset List (recommended to be rescinded at the AGM review in 2012):
Geranium x oxonianum 'Wargrave Pink' Geranium sanguineum var. striatum Hardiness rating: H4 - hardy throughout the British Isles
Index of hardy Geranium trial, Stage 2, 2003-2005 Name entered as: Award Sender G. versicolor RHS Wisley G. × oxonianum 'Ankum's White' Coen Jansen G. × oxonianum 'Hexham White' Robin Moss G. × oxonianum 'Cream Chocolate' Robin Moss G. × oxonianum 'Breckland Brownie' Rosie's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'Lace Time' Howard Nurseries G. × oxonianum 'Waystrode' Meadow Cottage Plants G. × oxonianum 'Kate Moss' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum 'Rebecca Moss' Meadow Cottage Plants G. × oxonianum 'Trevor's White' Meadow Cottage Plants G. × oxonianum 'Susie White' Rosie's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Crûg Star' Coen Jansen G. × oxonianum 'Phoebe's Blush' Rosie's Garden Plants G. 'Meryl Anne' Susan Rowe G. × oxonianum 'Winscombe' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum 'Stillingfleet Keira' Robin Moss G. × oxonianum 'Wargrave Pink' AGM (H4) '93 Perryhill Nurseries Ltd G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Sue Cox' Coen Jansen G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Southcombe Star' Linward Hardy Plants G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Southcombe Star' Rosie's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'Spring Fling' Cotswold Garden Flowers G. × oxonianum 'Walter's Gift' Cotswold Garden Flowers G. × oxonianum 'Lasting Impression' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum 'Bregover Pearl' Meadow Cottage Plants G. endressii 'Beholder's Eye' AGM (H4) '05 Hellyer's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'David Rowlinson' L W Plants G. × oxonianum 'Frank Lawley' Coombland Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Hexham Pink' Catforth Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Rose Clair' Coombland Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Hollywood' Catforth Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Julie Brennan' Catforth Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Claridge Druce' Beth Chatto Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Claridge Druce' Perryhill Nurseries Ltd G. sanguineum 'John Elsey' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum 'Claridge Druce' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum 'Claridge Druce' Howard Nurseries G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Sherwood' Coombland Gardens & A.Norton G. × oxonianum 'Lady Moore' A Norton G. × oxonianum 'Bressingham's Delight' Rosie's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'Bressingham's Delight' Blooms of Bressingham G. × oxonianum 'Old Rose' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum 'Elworthy Misty' Elworthy Cottage Plants G. × oxonianum 'Königshof' C Jansen G. × oxonianum 'Summer Surprise' Hellyer's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'Rosemary Verey' Hellyer's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'Breckland Sunset' Hellyer's Garden Plants G. 'Farncombe Cerise Star' Mrs Grace N Officer G. × oxonianum 'Rosenlicht' Howard Nurseries G. × oxonianum 'Robin's Ginger Nut' R Moss G. × oxonianum 'Red Sceptre' R Moss G. × oxonianum 'Coronet' Rosie's Garden Plants G. × oxonianum 'Miriam Rundle' Elworthy Cottage Plants
G. × oxonianum 'Pat Smallacombe' Catforth Gardens G. × oxonianum 'Phoebe Noble' Meadow Cottage Plants G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Red Sputnik' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Armitageae' Waterpump Farm G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum Cotswold Garden Flowers G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum Howard Nurseries G. × oxonianum 'Trevor's White' Cotswold Garden Flowers G. endressii 'Rose' Waterpump Farm G. endressii 'Priestling's Red' Meadow Cottage Plants G. endressii 'Castle Drogo' AGM (H4) '05 Catforth Gardens G. endressii 'Betty Catchpole' Catforth Gardens G. endressii AGM (H4) '93 Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants G. endressii AGM (H4) '93 Linward Hardy Plants G. 'Red Admiral' Catforth Gardens G. 'Ivan' AGM (H4) '05 Howard Nurseries G. 'Patricia' AGM (H4) '05 Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants G. 'Maxwelton' Catforth Gardens G. 'Nicola' Catforth Gardens G. 'King Penda' Mr H J Mazza G. 'Eva' Catforth Gardens G. psilostemon clone 1 white A Byfield G. psilostemon 'Coton Goliath' R Moss G. psilostemon pale pink A Byfield G. psilostemon 'Bressingham Flair' Howard Nurseries G. psilostemon 'Jack of Kilbryde' Dr E Stevens G. psilostemon 'Jason Bloom' Blooms of Bressingham G. psilostemon AGM (H4) '93 Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants G. psilostemon 'Gold Leaf' Cotswold Garden Flowers G. 'Anne Thomson' AGM (H4) '05 Meadow Cottage Plants G. 'Ann Folkard' AGM (H4) '96 Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants G. Blue Sunrise 'Blogold' AGM (H4) '05 Blooms of Bressingham G. versicolor 'Snow White' Crûg Farm Plants G. × oxonianum 'Lambrook Gillian' R Moss G. × oxonianum 'Prestbury Blush' Crûg Farm Plants G. × oxonianum 'Phoebe's Blush' Coen Jansen G. × oxonianum 'Susie White' Coen Jansen G. × oxonianum 'Pearl Boland' R Moss G. × oxonianum f. thurstonianum 'Southcombe Double'
R Moss
G. × oxonianum 'Wageningen' R Moss & Mrs P Elkington G. × oxonianum 'Rosemary' R Moss G. × oxonianum 'Lutzie' RHS Wisley G. × oxonianum 'Laura Skelton' Catforth Gardens G. tuberosum 'Leonidas' Cotswold Garden Flowers G. sanguineum 'Album' AGM (H4) '93 Perryhill Nurseries Ltd G. sanguineum 'Connie Hansen' Coen Jansen G. sanguineum var. striatum AGM (H4) '93 Perryhill Nurseries Ltd G. sanguineum var. striatum 'Splendens' AGM (H4) '05 Rosie's Garden Plants G. sanguineum 'Robin's Rascal' R Moss G. sanguineum 'Belle of Herterton' Usual & Unusual Plants G. sanguineum 'Joanna' Coombland Gardens G. sanguineum 'Aviemore' AGM (H4) '05 Hellyer's Garden Plants G. sanguineum 'Canon Miles' R Moss
G. from Tien Shan Mountains, China blue-flowered Dr R Mackenzie G. sanguineum 'Feu d'Automne' R Moss G. from Tien Shan Mountains, China white-flowered Dr R Mackenzie G. sanguineum Alan Bloom 'Bloger' Blooms of Bressingham G. sanguineum 'Alpenglow' Rosie's Garden Plants G. sanguineum 'Shooting Star' Coen Jansen G. sanguineum Perryhill Nurseries Ltd G. sanguineum 'Nyewood' Monksilver Nursery G. sanguineum 'Bloody Graham' Howard Nurseries G. sanguineum 'Cedric Morris' Beth Chatto Gardens G. sanguineum 'Max Frei' Rougham Hall Nurseries G. sanguineum 'Holden' Hellyer's Garden Plants G. sanguineum 'Elsbeth' Beth Chatto Gardens G. sanguineum 'Ankum's Pride' AGM (H4) '05 Monksilver Nursery G. sanguineum 'Glenluce' Cambridge University Botanic Gdn G. sanguineum 'New Hampshire Purple' Coombland Gardens G. sanguineum 'New Hampshire Purple' Rosie's Garden Plants G. sanguineum 'Vision' Waterpump Farm G. sanguineum 'Catforth Carnival' Rosie's Garden Plants G. sanguineum 'South Nutfield' Coombland Gardens G. sanguineum 'Shepherd's Warning' Plantsman's Preference G. 'Vera May' Usual & Unusual Plants G. 'Dilys' AGM (H4) '05 Meadow Cottage Plants G. 'Tiny Monster' Cotswold Garden Flowers G. 'Diva' Hellyer's Garden Plants G. 'Khan' Catforth Gardens G. albanum Cambridge University Botanic Gdn G. tuberosum Beth Chatto Gardens G. malviflorum pink Crûg Farm Plants G. malviflorum Cambridge University Botanic Gdn G. libani Cambridge University Botanic Gdn G. 'Solitaire' A Norton G. peloponnesiacum Howard Nurseries G. malviflorum Spanish form Beeches Nursery
Senders addresses MrA Byfield c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Mr A Norton, National Collection Holder, www.hardygeraniums.com Beth Chatto Gardens, Elmstead Market, Essex CO7 7DB Birchwood Plants 02380 814345 or at NT Mottisfont Abbey, see www.birchwoodplants.co.uk, (please ring to check availability). Blooms of Bressingham Ltd, Bressingham, Diss, Norfolk IP22 2AB Cambridge University Botanic Garden, Cory Lodge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB2 1JF Catforth Gardens, c/o The Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Coen Jansen, Vaste Planten, Ankummer Es 13, NL-7722 RD Dalfsen, Holland Coombland Gardens no longer trading. Cotswold Garden Flowers, Sands Lane, Badsey, Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 5EZ Crûg Farm Plants, Griffith's Crossing, Caernarfon, Gwynedd LL55 1TU Dr Evelyn Stevens c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Dr R Mackenzie, Barn Cottage, Shilton, Oxfordshire OX18 4AB Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, Priory Lane Nursery, Freefolk Priors, Whitchurch, Hampshire RG28 7NJ Hellyer's Garden Plants, no longer trading, stock transferred to Birchwood Plants, see above. Howard Nurseries, Wortham, Diss, Norfolk IP22 1PX Linward Hardy Plants, 17 Roland Avenue, Nuthall, Nottingham, NG16 1BB
L W Plants, 23 Wroxham Way, Harpenden, Herts, AL5 4PP Meadow Cottage Plants, Pitt Hill, Ivybridge, Devon PL21 0JJ Monksilver Nursery, Oakington road, Cottenham, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire CB4 8TW Mr H J Mazza c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Mrs Grace N Officer c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Perryhill Nurseries Ltd, Hartfield, East Sussex TN7 4JP RHS Wisley c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Mr R Moss c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Rosie's Garden Plants, Rochester Road, Aylesford, Kent ME20 7EB Rougham Hall Nurseries, A14 Ipswich Road, Rougham, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 9LZ Ms S Rowe c/o Trials Office, RHS Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB Tir Mab Cynan Nursery, Brithdir, Nr Dolgellau, Gwynedd, Wales, LL40 2RW Usual & Unusual Plants, Onslow House, Magham Down, Hailsham, East Sussex BN27 1PL Waterpump Farm, Ryeford, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7PU
A comprehensive colour Bulletin, Geranium Stage 2, will be available in June 2006.
Please direct queries to the Trials Office on 01483 212440 or [email protected].
