Geranium Johnsons Blue
Price range: £8.50 through £20.00
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Description
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Hardy Geranium, Cranesbill, Johnson’s Blue Geranium
- Botanical Name: Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Mature Height: 30–50cm
- Mature Spread: 60–90cm
- Flowering Period: June to August (often with a lighter repeat flush)
- Flower Colour: Clear violet-blue flowers with fine darker veining
- Foliage: Mid-green, deeply cut leaves; turns warm tones in autumn before dying back
- Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy throughout UK & Ireland)
- Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained soil; adaptable
- Aspect: Full sun to partial shade
- Maintenance: Low
Description
Geranium ‘Johnson’s Blue’ is one of those plants that earns its place in the garden a hundred times over. Easy, generous, and beautifully long-flowering, it weaves a soft carpet of foliage through borders and then covers itself in clear violet-blue flowers that feel both fresh and timeless.
The blooms have that classic cranesbill look—open, saucer-shaped petals with delicate darker veining—floating above a mound of deeply cut green leaves. The overall effect is relaxed and natural, perfect for cottage gardens, contemporary planting, and everything in between. It’s also a brilliant “linking” plant: the colour sits happily beside pinks, whites, yellows, and purples, and the spreading habit helps knit a border together while gently suppressing weeds.
In Irish and UK gardens, ‘Johnson’s Blue’ is famously hardy and forgiving. Once established it copes well with a range of soils, and it’s particularly good at filling gaps, softening edges, and making a planting scheme look more abundant without feeling overdone.
Caragh Garden Notebook
Planting:
Space plants 50–60cm apart (they spread generously). Plant in spring (March–May) or early autumn (September) for best establishment. Choose a position in full sun to partial shade—sun gives the best flowering, while partial shade is ideal in warmer spots or where soil dries out. Dig a generous hole and incorporate compost to support strong growth. Plant at the same depth as in the pot, firm in gently, water well, and mulch.
Space plants 50–60cm apart (they spread generously). Plant in spring (March–May) or early autumn (September) for best establishment. Choose a position in full sun to partial shade—sun gives the best flowering, while partial shade is ideal in warmer spots or where soil dries out. Dig a generous hole and incorporate compost to support strong growth. Plant at the same depth as in the pot, firm in gently, water well, and mulch.
Soil Preparation:
Prefers moist, well-drained soil but is very adaptable and will tolerate clay, loam, and sandy soils. Improve heavy clay with organic matter to help drainage and root growth. Improve sandy soils with compost to retain moisture. Mulch annually to keep moisture steady and feed the soil.
Prefers moist, well-drained soil but is very adaptable and will tolerate clay, loam, and sandy soils. Improve heavy clay with organic matter to help drainage and root growth. Improve sandy soils with compost to retain moisture. Mulch annually to keep moisture steady and feed the soil.
Seasonal Care:
Low maintenance. Deadhead if you want a tidier look, but the best trick for a strong repeat flush is the “Chelsea Chop” style cut-back: once the first main flowering finishes, shear the plant back by about one-third to one-half and water well. It will quickly produce fresh foliage and often flower again. In autumn, allow foliage to fade naturally, then cut back to ground level in late autumn or early spring.
Low maintenance. Deadhead if you want a tidier look, but the best trick for a strong repeat flush is the “Chelsea Chop” style cut-back: once the first main flowering finishes, shear the plant back by about one-third to one-half and water well. It will quickly produce fresh foliage and often flower again. In autumn, allow foliage to fade naturally, then cut back to ground level in late autumn or early spring.
Division:
Divide every 3–5 years in spring or early autumn to maintain vigour and keep plants flowering strongly. Lift the clump, split into sections with healthy roots and shoots, and replant immediately. Water well until re-established.
Divide every 3–5 years in spring or early autumn to maintain vigour and keep plants flowering strongly. Lift the clump, split into sections with healthy roots and shoots, and replant immediately. Water well until re-established.
Pests & Problems:
Generally trouble-free. Watch for slugs/snails on young growth in spring. In very damp summers, powdery mildew can appear—good spacing and airflow help prevent it.
Generally trouble-free. Watch for slugs/snails on young growth in spring. In very damp summers, powdery mildew can appear—good spacing and airflow help prevent it.
Design Notes:
Beautiful with roses, salvias, nepeta, alchemilla, astrantia, campanula, and ornamental grasses. Also excellent at the front of borders, along paths, or spilling gently over low
Beautiful with roses, salvias, nepeta, alchemilla, astrantia, campanula, and ornamental grasses. Also excellent at the front of borders, along paths, or spilling gently over low
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