Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
rowansmom_1029

sport of hardy geranium Johnson's Blue?

rowansmom_1029
16 years ago

Hi,

I discovered a hardy geranium seedling in my garden, near a 'Johnson's Blue'. JB has made several babies, but one is a totally different color. It is very pretty.

I am wondering if this is a sport, a genetic variation. I also am wondering if this is common with h. geraniums, or is it pretty rare? I don't think it is a cross with another geranium, since I don't have very many.

Any thoughts? If it turns out to be a fantastic plant, can I go on to make millions off of it? :-)

Carolyn

Comments (11)

  • ann_norway
    16 years ago

    Sorry to say, 'Johnson's Blue' is sterile so either a) you don't have a 'Johnson's Blue' or b) eh, well there isn't really a b ;)

    If 'Johnson's Blue' is the only geranium you have in your garden you don't have the real thing. It is very common to get a 'Gravetye' when buying a 'Johnson's Blue'. I should know, I bought 3 before I got the real one. If you have other cranebills then it must be some of them making your babies. They are notorius unfaithful so that explains why there is 1400 different named varieties today. And thats only the named :)
    Please give us a picture one day, will you?

  • rowansmom_1029
    Original Author
    16 years ago

    Thanks for the reply! Hmmm, me thinks I don't have Johnson's Blue, then. I will look up Gravetye. 1400 named! Wow. I knew there were a lot, but didn't know there were that many. Thanks again.

  • ann_norway
    16 years ago

    This is a good database to have when you want to get into the world of Geraniums :)

  • pellie_grower
    16 years ago

    Your Geranium may even be x magnificum or as Ann Norway says himalayense and it's cultivars including 'Gravetye'

    Here is a link that might be useful: hardy Geranium photo database

  • leo_prairie_view
    16 years ago

    I have what was called Geranium himalayense and what was called Johnson's Blue and they I can't see any difference. I think that a lot of what is sold is a form of G himalayense and it does seed around. For me that is part of the fun of growing hardy geraniums, you never know what you will find next or where and the duds and superfluous ones are easy to pull up. Even if you have to do it sereptiously from the neighbours yard.
    This apeared in a clump of Brookside this summer, it is a nice tidy 45cm plant that is still blooming now.

  • pellie_grower
    16 years ago

    that looks like Geranium sanguineum 'Striatum'

    How do I post photos?

  • leo_prairie_view
    16 years ago

    Oops, you're right, I posted the wrong picture.

  • pellie_grower
    16 years ago

    I'm still not convinced. Geraniums do sometimes throw a different colour during heat or towards the end of their flowering period.

    Do you have closeups showing both flowers face on?

  • leo_prairie_view
    16 years ago

    These are not sports in that they are complete plants with all the same flowers. They are volunteers and hybrids of the 20 different geraniums I have in this bed not sports like on roses where I have single roses of a darker red growing on the same plant that has very double light pink flowers. These are both probably a cross of G. pratense and Brookside or G. himalayense.
    Leo

  • barb_in_dc
    16 years ago

    "not sports like on roses where I have single roses of a darker red growing on the same plant that has very double light pink. . ."

    Leo: What you have isn't a "sport" but a rose that was grafted onto Dr. Huey. Your rose is reverting back to the graft. Time to get rid of it and plant something new.

  • leo_prairie_view
    16 years ago

    It is a rugosa rose sent to me from The Devoninian Botanical botanical garden of the University of Alberta definitely on its own roots. They gave it to me so that I could give away suckers and keep this prairie heritage rose in circulation so I am sure it is a sport.
    Leo