Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: maggiepie on November 20, 2009, 05:45:36 PM

Title: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on November 20, 2009, 05:45:36 PM

I have 6 of these plants I grew from seed, the ones that grow in full sun have grown into nice mounds, the ones that only get a few hours of sun are somewhat leggy.
The leaves are a lovely silvery green.
I have been looking at leaves of various geraniums and to me the leaves look similar to Geranium pulchrum, Geranium Caffrum or Geranium Robustum.
I'm not sure any of these would be hardy for me so am thinking I should dig up a few just in case.
None of them have flowered so far.
Am hoping someone might be able to help ID the seedlings.

Mystery Geranium

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: mark smyth on November 20, 2009, 06:11:58 PM

Photos 1,2,4 are G. robustum
Photo 3 is G. pulchrum

I'm note sure about hardiness but I'm sure full sun would be best

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on November 20, 2009, 06:17:51 PM

Mark, pics 2 and 3 are of the same plant.
All 6 of my seedlings came from the same batch of seed, they were marked Geranium Sp.

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: mark smyth on November 20, 2009, 06:39:57 PM

OK ??? :-\ You still have robustum and pulchrum. Geranium pulchrum has lovely pink flowers

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on November 20, 2009, 06:46:01 PM

Mark, here is a pic of the leaves at the top of the woody stems from the plant in pics 2&3

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: mark smyth on November 20, 2009, 06:53:58 PM

Now I'm confused. The basal leaves look OK for G. pulchrum

These are the flowering stems and flower of Geranium robustum

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on November 20, 2009, 07:03:56 PM

Thanks for the pic, that is a lovely plant.

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: mark smyth on November 20, 2009, 07:10:41 PM

Those are flowering stems, Helen. The actaul plant is hidden under all that tangle. It seeds gently.

I have searched and searched for my photos of G. pulchrum but cant find them  ::)

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: Lori S. on November 20, 2009, 07:23:18 PM

If it's any help, here are a few of what may be the more easily-distinguished points (I find geraniums very hard to ID!) from Yeo's description of G. pulchrum:
- large bushy perennial, stems woody at base; leaves heavily felted, at least beneath...
-stems downy with dense clothing of recurved hairs; crowded, but not rosetted, alternate leaves below
-upper surface of leaves hoary green, densely covered with appressed hairs or less hairy and deep green; lower surface has dense woolly coat of hairs
-from the Drakensberg, "surprisingly hardy in Britain (in view of the hairy leaves)"

 

Title: Re: Geranium ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on November 20, 2009, 07:32:44 PM

Mark, I think it would be a very useful plant to have , I hope you find your pics.

Lori, these leaves aren't hairy and don't think felty underneath either.
Hmmmmm I think I better dig up a couple and try and winter in the basement, maybe the flowers will reveal its ID.
Thanks for your input.