I Want Some Truly Blue Hardy Geraniums (and blue-flowered plant suggestions)

@redstar You know, I've never been much of a fan of hostas, but seeing how nicely they combined with your geraniums (and considering the fact that they'll be fine in my heavy clay soil) makes me want to get one. I quite like the second one here, 'El Nino'.

15 of the best hostas to grow

I read recently that Geranium macrorrhizum was one of the earliest non-native species of geranium introduced to Britain, from Italy in 1596!

Nick

 

Commelina tuberosa maybe................
Commelina tuberosa by longk48, on Flickr

It's hardy and long flowering............
Commelina tuberosa by longk48, on Flickr

 

@longk Ooh, that does look like a nice blue, never heard of it before! Might have to work on giving it sufficient drainage with my heavy clay soil, I'll have to look into that further. Thanks for the suggestion!

Nick

 

@Nikolaos , Hosta's to me are a necessary mainstay for shaded gardens. However, I use the leaf color first for what I want to companion them with, then there is their size they will become, and what shape they grow into. In the deeper shaded areas the yellow type does pop out interesting. I like to pair my blue hostas with the red coral bells etc. My house has blue siding, so, lots of blue about around. If you go to my thread you will see lots of examples of how I use them. and then there are the mini ones, that can be used way up front as an edging. Many years ago, 28 or so, spent a winter with a pile of books about hosta's , use, how to decorate with etc. Of course well before forums such as this began.

I have split so many over the years and given away. this year need to do more.

 

Hi Nikalaos
Hostas for me too.....however, they can also grow in the sun if kept reasonably moist. All of these are grown in full sun. Here are some potted and in the ground ...just a few of them

 

only some can grow in the sun, not all in general. the list of those is short. With that said. it is a calculation of time to fuss with those that need more sun versus not using them in the sun at all. there are certainly other plants that can handle sun and be successful without expending more time from the gardener. Life is too short.

 

BTW the above hosta with the yellow rim, smells like a gardenia when it blooms. and see the hardy geranium.

 

Hostas too, @Verdun? Well, I've come to the conclusion that you don't have an average-sized garden but a small kingdom and must be at least 450 years of age to know all you do about horticulture!

Full sun ha, I wish my friend, few plants get it here with all the surrounding trees in my back garden. Having my friend round on Friday to get rid of all the laterals on the conifers which are now adding height, the main trunks were cut a couple of years ago but they insist on shading my garden in some way! Grrr, little sods!

Nick

 

Ha ha Nikalaos.....a reasonably large garden and I grow an awful lot of plants. Yep, just a tad under 450 years old :rasp:

Hostas are a bit of an essential here I suppose......maybe a dozen, not sure. Touch wood, snail and slug damage free

Grasses is another category here......different texture, different scale and tactile

 

@Verdun Grasses, I keep meaning to learn a little more about them, know next to nothing. Only grass I grow is Festuca glauca, I just love the colour! Hardly any slugs this year in my part of the Midlands, definitely not missing them!

Nick

 

Hey! I could talk all day about grasses Nikalaos :rasp:

I have quite a few here.....from tall stipa gigantea to the tiny tennuissima. Miscanthus, calamagrostis, tender red pennisetums, blue elymus magellanicus and helictotrichon, yellow grasses, variegated grasses, imperata Red Baron (foliage turns maroon red now) etc. I will post some pictures.

Miscanthus will grow well in your heavy soil as will hackonecloa and most carex

 

Give me a nudge next week and I'll dig out some seed for you.

 

@longk Brilliant, bless you mate! I always make a bigger effort with growing seed other people have given me because I feel awful if I don't use it! Guilt can be a great motivating force! ;o)

Nick