Hardy Geraniums

The Hardy Geranium Group was formed in 1974 when interest in the plants was booming. There are now approx. 110 species and 600 cultivars in British gardens. They range in height from a few cm. to 1m. and in colour from white through pink, mauve and pale blue to deep magenta, violet and blue. There is a geranium for every site in the garden: hot and sunny or dry shade. Margery Fish famously said “When in doubt, plant a geranium.”

We are still the only association dedicated solely to this large family of garden-worthy plants, which have been voted the Hardy Plant Society’s favourite flowers. Our members provide advice and information about the plants to gardeners, nurserymen and journalists in the UK and abroad. Membership is open to all members of the HPS and we welcome those who are not specialists but would like to know more.

We produce two newsletters a year in Spring and Autumn, host an annual AGM and Geranium Day at different venues around the UK, and organise a geranium and erodium seed exchange each year (free to members).  The seed list is usually sent out in November. You can find full information below on how to join at the beginning of the ‘Further Information’ section.

How can you join?

Subscriptions are renewable on 1st January, or on the anniversary of your membership, when paying via the HPS website post 2024.

• U.K. members: £7.00 p.a. This covers up to two people at the same address.
• Overseas members: £9.00 p.a. to be paid with the main HPS subscription unless members have a UK sterling bank account.
• Please note that these fees are in addition to the National HPS subscription.

Join this group online by visiting our shop.

If you have any queries, please contact Liz, the Hardy Geranium Group’s membership secretary – [email protected] or 

New members will receive a free copy of the latest newsletter and an e-copy of ‘Geranium People’, a booklet by Margaret Stone, a former HGG chairman, about many of the people who have introduced geraniums or had geraniums named after them. If you have not received these within 1 month after joining us please let Liz know via the contact details above.

Activities

Geranium Day 2026 13th June

The annual Geranium Days are proving very popular, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Join us at RHS Wisley with an opportunity to see the Hardy Geranium trial which will be in its second year of a three-year process. Some of our members are not only part of the trial’s forum, but have plants from their own collections in the trial. It will be a fantastic opportunity for attendees to view and consider which Hardy Geraniums they need to include in their “must have “lists.

We will meet in the morning at Ripley Village Hall, Surrey (GU23 6AF) with refreshments upon arrival and our very own HGG plant stall.

We are delighted to announce that our keynote speaker for the day is  Nik Martin-Turner from The North-facing Garden and the South-facing Garden. We all know he is one of our enthusiastic members of the HGG and has previously given us a superb zoom talk. Nik is also part of the RHS Hardy Geranium Trials Forum. He will be bringing some of his lovely plants to sell and we are sure he will be happy to answer any of your questions.

On the day we will also have our annual AGM and brief updates from our committee, throughout the morning you will all be suitably served with homemade cakes and refreshments.

In the afternoon we’ll move on to RHS Wisley to see the geranium trial beds and talk to some of the Trial Forum members including the Chairman of the Trials Forum and  RHS Herbaceous Plant Expert Group, our very own Cathy Rollinson and former Chairman of the HPS. You are then free to explore RHS Wisley at your own leisure and as you know it is the flagship garden for the Royal Horticultural Society and regarded as one of the great gardens of the world, with 240 acres to explore.

We are offering this day FREE for HGG members with a standard rate of £10 for non HGG members.  HPS members paying £10 will get complimentary HGG membership for 2025. 

Please download a booking form here and email it to myself ([email protected]), when you’ve completed it.  If you do not have access to the internet, please write to me for a booking form, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope.  My address is Bridge Farm, Boynton Lane, Butterwick, Malton YO17 6PS.

Two weeks prior to the day, Sue Brown  will send everyone attending an information sheet, giving a full timetable; directions to the venues; parking details; and full particulars about the HGG plant sale at Ripley Village Hall.  As always, we will need volunteers to make the day a success.  The booking form  will include details of how you could help.  As a thank you, volunteers will get early access to the HGG plant sale.

Geranium Day 2025 

This day was held in Botcheston and we had the opportunity to listen too Anthony Nichols who holds the National Plant Collection® of Geranium phaeum. The highlight on the day was the visit to his garden in the afternoon to see his beautiful garden.

Plant Heritage (NCCPG) National Collections of hardy geraniums are held by:

Susan Clarke, Wren’s Nest, Wrenbury Heath Road,Wrenbury, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 8EQ (map)
[email protected]
Geranium sylvaticum and renardii.
Open by appointment. Please email [email protected] for details.
From Nantwich town centre follow A530 towards Whitchurch. At Sound School on R take 1st R onto Wrenbury Heath Rd.

Margaret Stone, Brockamin, Old Hills, Callow End, Worcs. WR2 4TQ. (map)
[email protected]
Geranium x cantabrigiense, macrorrhizum and sanguineum.
Open by appointment February-October.
½ mile S of village. Pull into Old Hills car-park; walk towards houses, keeping right.

Joan Taylor, Silverwood House, Gardeners Lane, Romsey, Hants. SO51 6AD (map)
[email protected]
www.birchwoodplants.co.uk
Geranium nodosum.
Open by appointment.
Take A3090 to Romsey. At top of hill take left turn into Gardeners Lane.
Silverwood House is on the left, beyond bend, approx. 1 km

Anthony Nichols JP, The New Barn, 92 Newbold Road, Desford, Leicestershire, LE9 9GS (map)
[email protected]
Geranium phaeum.
Open by appointment.
Follow signs to Tropical Birdland, Desford from J22 M1. Follow Newbold Road – New Barn is on right hand side inside old farmyard for Gables Farm. 7 miles from Leicester city centre and train station, with decent bus links to Market Bosworth.

Rachel Wilkinson, Rowan Bank, West View, Castleside, County Durham, DH8 9QP
[email protected]
Geranium species
Open by appointment.
At the A68 crossroads in Castleside take the turn for Stanhope. West View is about one hundred yards along on the right.

Geraniums Book

The HPS Geraniums book is available here at a price of £10.00 for members and £12.00 for non-members.