HARDY GERANIUM ROBERTIANUM

This is our favorite ground cover for dry, sandy acidic soil (which we have a lot of) under evergreen trees, as it flourishes, and provides a bright-green carpet of leaves, topped with cute pink flowers in summer. They do very well in . Once established, these plants will gently self-seeds and spread to form drifts. If they decide to grow somewhere that you don't like, they are very easy to pull up.

Type: Hardy perennial

Height: 10"

Location: Part part sun

Hardiness zones: 3-9

Seeds per pack: 3

Germination: As with many perennials, these seeds can benefit from a period of moist cold to help them grow. This is done by giving them a cold 'winter' period (artificial or natural), and then a warming to simulate 'spring', and time to grow! Here's how this can be done:

Obtain a planting container that has holes in the bottom for excess water to drain. Place the seeds on the surface of your growing medium, and water the seeds in. Place your container in a cold area (but not freezing, perhaps a refrigerator) for 5-6 weeks. Once the cold period is completed, place the container at room temperature, and in a bright area (they require light), for them to germinate. Be sure to keep the soil moist during this entire germination period. Seedlings will sprout a few weeks, or occasionally several months, after the warming period.

Alternatively, these seeds can also be planted outdoors in fall, winter, or early spring, while temperatures are still cold (but ground is workable) to germinate naturally in spring. Be sure to mark the area where you planted them, and that the soil is consistently moist.