Vivid clear blue with tinged pink centers.
Hardy geraniums are low-maintenance perennials ideal for borders, rock gardens or as a colorful ground cover.
Hardy geraniums are low-maintenance perennials ideal for borders, rock gardens or as a colorful ground cover.
- Zone 4-8
- Height 12 - 18 inches
- Bloom Time Early summer main display and will repeat blooming later in the season.
- Product Details
- Shipping
- Botanical Name:Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'
- Height: 12 - 18 inches
- Ship As: NO. 1 BAREROOT
- Spacing: 18 - 24 inches
- Spread: 18 - 24 inches
- Light Requirements: Full Sun, Partial Shade
- Color: blue
- Foliage Type: Attractive palmate - dark green, 2 - 8" wide.
- Bloom Time: Early summer main display and will repeat blooming later in the season.
- Flower Form: Cup shaped - 2".
- Planting Instructions: Prefers a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade.
- Soil Requirements: Well drained garden soil.
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Pruning: Can cut back in mid summer to rejuvenate. mid summer
- Winter Care: Mulch first winter if fall planted.
- Unable to ship to: AE AK GU HI PR
How to Grow a Johnson's Blue Geranium Plant
Prized for its sky blue flowers and lengthy blooming period, "Johnson's Blue" geranium (Geranium x "Johnson's Blue") is a cultivar of cranesbill geranium widely grown within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. "Johnson's Blue" geraniums thrive with little hands-on care or attention and will bloom prolifically from spring until autumn if planted in a suitably warm and sunny bed. However, the plants will look better and live longer if provided with routine maintenance to encourage productive root and foliage growth.
1 Grow "Johnson's Blue" geraniums in a garden bed with moderately fertile, fast-draining soil and full sun exposure. Provide light shade during the hottest part of the day if growing them in inland areas with very hot, dry summers. Avoid growing them in deep shade because they will become leggy and produce fewer blooms.
2 Water "Johnson's Blue" geraniums weekly to a depth of 1 inch during their first summer in the garden. Increase water by half during extended periods of drought and heat. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely between waterings to avoid creating a soggy, perpetually wet bed.
3 Reduce water once the "Johnson's Blue" geranium plants have established a productive root system. Water to a 1-inch depth every 10 to 15 days during the summer months. Provide supplemental water if the plants wilt as a result of excess heat.
4 Withhold all water during the winter, or whenever a significant amount of rain falls. Never water when the soil is moist from rainfall or from the previous watering since excessively moist soil will harm the plant's roots over time.
5 Feed "Johnson's Blue" geraniums in early spring by side-dressing with a 2-inch layer of organic compost or by applying a granular 20-20-20 fertilizer at half strength. Apply fertilizer or other supplemental nutrients only if the plant shows a noticeable lack of vigor or signs of mineral deficiencies such as yellow leaves.
6 Prune "Johnson's Blue" geraniums periodically during the summer months to remove spent flowers, dead leaves or spindly stems. Cut back the entire plant by half in late summer to encourage a second flush of growth in autumn.7 Remove weeds manually from between the plants to eliminate competition for nutrients and moisture. Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch between the plants to prevent emerging weeds, if weed growth is a significant problem during their first year in the garden.
8 Divide "Johnson's Blue" geraniums in autumn every three to four years. Dig up the entire root ball with a shovel. Cut the plant into equal portions and replant them 12 to 24 inches apart. Discard the center of the plant if the growth is woody or lacks vigor.
Things You Will Need
Prized for its sky blue flowers and lengthy blooming period, "Johnson's Blue" geranium (Geranium x "Johnson's Blue") is a cultivar of cranesbill geranium widely grown within U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. "Johnson's Blue" geraniums thrive with little hands-on care or attention and will bloom prolifically from spring until autumn if planted in a suitably warm and sunny bed. However, the plants will look better and live longer if provided with routine maintenance to encourage productive root and foliage growth.
1 Grow "Johnson's Blue" geraniums in a garden bed with moderately fertile, fast-draining soil and full sun exposure. Provide light shade during the hottest part of the day if growing them in inland areas with very hot, dry summers. Avoid growing them in deep shade because they will become leggy and produce fewer blooms.
2 Water "Johnson's Blue" geraniums weekly to a depth of 1 inch during their first summer in the garden. Increase water by half during extended periods of drought and heat. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out completely between waterings to avoid creating a soggy, perpetually wet bed.
3 Reduce water once the "Johnson's Blue" geranium plants have established a productive root system. Water to a 1-inch depth every 10 to 15 days during the summer months. Provide supplemental water if the plants wilt as a result of excess heat.
4 Withhold all water during the winter, or whenever a significant amount of rain falls. Never water when the soil is moist from rainfall or from the previous watering since excessively moist soil will harm the plant's roots over time.
5 Feed "Johnson's Blue" geraniums in early spring by side-dressing with a 2-inch layer of organic compost or by applying a granular 20-20-20 fertilizer at half strength. Apply fertilizer or other supplemental nutrients only if the plant shows a noticeable lack of vigor or signs of mineral deficiencies such as yellow leaves.
6 Prune "Johnson's Blue" geraniums periodically during the summer months to remove spent flowers, dead leaves or spindly stems. Cut back the entire plant by half in late summer to encourage a second flush of growth in autumn.7 Remove weeds manually from between the plants to eliminate competition for nutrients and moisture. Spread a 2-inch-thick layer of mulch between the plants to prevent emerging weeds, if weed growth is a significant problem during their first year in the garden.
8 Divide "Johnson's Blue" geraniums in autumn every three to four years. Dig up the entire root ball with a shovel. Cut the plant into equal portions and replant them 12 to 24 inches apart. Discard the center of the plant if the growth is woody or lacks vigor.
Things You Will Need
- Organic compost or 20-20-20 fertilizer
- Pruning shears
- Mulch
- Shovel
Outdoor Beds
- Find a location where the soil drains well. If there are still water puddles 5-6 hours after a hard rain, scout out another site. Or amend the soil with the addition of organic material to raise the level 2-3" to improve the drainage. Peat moss, compost, ground bark or decomposed manure all work well and are widely available. While hardy geraniums aren't fussy about soil, they will not survive in soggy soil or standing water. Once established, these plants can tolerate moderate drought.
- Site your plants where they will receive partial sun to medium shade. Some geraniums, especially sanguineum, can manage full sun in northern locations but prefers a little shade elsewhere.
- Your plants will be shipped potted or "bareroot"; check individual variety descriptions. Bareroot just means that the plant is in a dormant state and the soil has been washed from the roots so you won't risk introducing any soil-borne diseases into your garden. Also, the plant is lighter and cleaner to ship. Bareroot plants are easy to handle and settle in quickly. Tuck your geraniums into the ground with the roots pointing downwards and fanned out. Place the growing points at soil level. Space plants about 12" apart.
- After planting, water well to settle the soil around the roots. Top growth and additional roots will form within a few weeks, depending on soil and air temperatures. Flowers develop in late spring to summer.
- Water periodically during the growing season if rain does not occur, keeping in mind that weekly deep waterings are better than lighter drinks every day or two. About 1" of water per week is a good estimate of the amount needed during active growth periods.
- After the early flush of blooms has faded trim the plants back 25-50%. This will tidy up their shape and encourage a subsequent flush of bloom.
- In late fall, your geranium foliage will fade and wilt with the onset of colder weather. At this point you may cut off any remaining leaves with the knowledge that next spring will bring fresh growth.
- Hardy geranium plants grow larger over time, spreading and developing into big clumps. These clumps can be divided by slicing them in half vertically with a sharp shovel. Replant the pieces or share with gardening friends. Divide in the fall every third or fourth year, if you like.
Pots, Barrels, Tubs & Urns
- Start with a large container and fill with good quality, well-drained soil. Almost any commercially available potting medium will work fine. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes in your pots; geraniums must never sit in waterlogged soil.
- Site your plants where they will receive partial sun to medium shade. Some geraniums, especially sanguineum, can manage full sun in northern locations but prefers a little shade elsewhere. Consider adding other plants to your container for variety; small to medium hostas and tuberous begonias are excellent partners.
- Your plants will be shipped potted or "bareroot"; check individual variety descriptions. Bareroot just means that the plant is in a dormant state and the soil has been washed from the roots so you won't risk introducing any soil-borne diseases into your garden. Also, the plant is lighter and cleaner to ship. Bareroot plants are easy to handle and settle in quickly. Tuck your geraniums into the ground with the roots pointing downwards and fanned out. Place the growing points at soil level. Space plants about 12" apart.
- After planting, water well to settle the soil around the roots. Top growth and additional roots will form within a few weeks, depending on soil and air temperatures. Flowers develop in late spring to summer.
- Water periodically during the growing season if rain does not occur, keeping in mind that weekly deep waterings are better than lighter drinks every day or two. About 1" of water per week is a good estimate of the amount needed during active growth periods.
- After the early flush of blooms has faded trim the plants back 25-50%. This will tidy up their shape and encourage a subsequent flush of bloom.
- In late fall, your geranium foliage will fade and wilt with the onset of colder weather. At this point you may cut off any remaining leaves with the knowledge that next spring will bring fresh growth.