Geranium hybrid 'Orkney Cherry'

Key Features: Dainty, dark pink flowers, held of a neat, low mound of red-bronze foliage. Perfect for rock gardens, front of border and small spaces.

This is one of the hybrids created by Alan Bremner who resides on Orkney. He has brought many fantastic varieties of Geranium to market over the years including 'St. Ola', 'Patricia', 'Dreamland', 'Anne Thomson' and 'Philippe Vapelle'.

Height x Spread: 6 x 10 inches (15 x 25 cm)

Preferred Aspect: Sun

Flowering Period: June - September

The Geranium hybrids, as with all plants, are the results of cross pollination between two species. This can be done intentionally by human intervention, or by bees who buzz from species to species within a garden, the results later being a seedling that pops up, discovered by a keen-eyed gardener and grown on, potentially identifying unique characteristics. Hybrids generally have a combination of the best traits from whatever their two parent plants were. This means that the commercially available ones are usually tried and tested strong growers with very good flowering periods, which a lot of people tend to look for. They also tend to be sterile and unable to produce seeds; this also influences the flowering period as the plant is constantly waiting for pollination to occur (which to the plant, never happens) so it goes on flowering as much as it can.

Hardy Geraniums are one of the most diverse genera of herbaceous perennials. It is possible to find a Geranium to suit most parts of your garden, from the vast range of species and varieties available. They complement most other plants beautifully and, chosen wisely, can provide a continuation of colour in the garden from spring through to early winter.

Please note that the heights, spreads and flowering periods mentioned are approximate, as they can be affected by your soil type, light levels and other various conditions that may surround the plant.