Geranium ‘Patricia’, a versatile perennial geranium

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Bright pink to magenta flowers, each with five petals and an almost black heart, rise above dark green, broadly lobed leaves from late spring until the first frosts. Geranium ‘Patricia’ is grown as a dense, weed-proof ground cover at the foot of roses; give it full sun and free-draining soil, and the flowering barely stops.

→ Dig deeper:

• Perennial geranium, flowering, planting and care tips
• Rediscover true geraniums
• Geranium: health benefits and virtues

Planting ‘Patricia’ perennial geranium

‘Patricia’ perennial geranium thrives in all kinds of light exposure as it can be planted in full sun to part shade.

→ However, its flowers are more vibrant, long-lasting and abundant under full sun.

On the flip side, it prefers rich, light soil that retains coolness in summer. Any ordinary, neutral to slightly acidic soil will do, but make sure it drains well. During winter, ‘Patricia’ geranium might not appreciate excessive moisture.

Planting can take place in spring, once frost is a memory, or in fall, giving it time to root and withstand the summer drought.

How to plant it in ground?

• Maintain a distance of about 16 inches (40 cm) between each ‘Patricia’ geranium plant
• Soak the clump in a bit of water
• Dig a hole twice the size of the root ball
• Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole and add a bit of compost, well-rotted manure or a slow-release fertilizer like dried blood and crushed horn
• Take the plant out of the pot and gently untangle its roots
• Place the geranium in the center of the hole and backfill with extra soil
• Water generously.

‘Patricia’ geranium in a container?

‘Patricia’ geranium adapts well to pot, planter or container growing, as long as the substrate drains perfectly and is rich.

So, you can use garden soil mixed with potting soil and coarse sand. And don’t forget a layer of clay balls at the bottom of the container.

How to care for this geranium?

This ‘Patricia’ geranium is easy to care for and only requires minimal maintenance:

• Mulch the ground to keep it cool
• Water in summer during heatwaves or droughts, especially if you planted the geranium in spring. In pots, water geraniums once a week
• Remove faded flowers regularly
• After blooming, around midsummer, don’t hesitate to cut back the clump to ground level to prevent spontaneous seeding. This drastic cut will also stimulate new blooms
• Add a bit of compost at the base of the clump in fall

You can easily multiply this perennial geranium every 3 or 4 years, by dividing the clump in spring.

More about perennial ‘Patricia’ geranium

This variety of perennial geranium stands out for its long blooming period, from May until the frost arrives. It creates a generous ground cover, easy to plant and maintain. This geranium has everything it takes to join your garden:

• It produces a multitude of bright pink to magenta flowers with five petals, featuring an almost black heart
• Its foliage is a dark green, broadly lobed and cut
• It blooms from May until the first November frost, providing that it’s cut back after the first wave of flowers. Similarly, regularly removing faded flowers stimulates new blooming
• It is hardy down to -13°F (-25°C). Its deciduous foliage disappears in winter, but the rhizome cluster persists.
• It forms a dense, compact clump spanning 20 inches (50 cm) in all directions. This makes it an excellent ground cover to plant at the foot of roses or perennials. You can also pair it with the equally versatile perennial geranium ‘Rozanne’.

Digging deeper:

• Perennial geranium, blooming, planting and care tips
• Rediscover true geraniums
• Geranium: health benefits and virtues