Geranium Collection

Holder:
Chicago Botanic Garden
Glencoe, Illinois
http://www.chicagobotanic.org
Sophia Siskel, President and CEO
Galen D. Gates, Director of Plant Collections/Curator of Perennial Plants

Primary Focus:
Collection represents broad taxonomic diversity including cultivars

Scope:
102 taxa, including 14 species, 88 subspecies, 85 cultivars
211 accessions
5% wild-collected taxa, 95% from cultivated sources
Herbarium holds 39 geranium specimens representing 15 taxa

Description:
The genus Geranium is one of Chicago Botanic Garden's (CBG) "Specialized Collections" identified in its Living Plant Collections Development Plan. The collection exhibits depth within a taxon broadly adapted to conditions in the Midwest US. It is rich with cultivated varieties well adapted to growing in the this challenging climate. Geraniums are displayed in landscape settings throughout the Garden and maintained at the highest standard. Because Chicago is a northern growing site (USDA Zone 5b), it offers an opportunity to study the hardiness and adaptability of this genus. Documentation for this collection includes digital images at both the taxonomic and accession level used for verification. The images are also being sent to online plant information databases for use by multiple audiences. The living collection is utilized by participants in CBG's robust selection of educational programming.

Facts Sheet - Geranium 'Svelte Lilac'

Facts Sheet - Geranium 'Cambridge'


Future plans call for an aggressive expansion of this collection. The new accessions will be displayed in an 18-acre site currently under development called the "West Collections Area".

Related Publications:
Hawke, Richard R. Chicago Botanic Garden Plant Evaluation Notes: Hardy Geraniums for Northern Climates. Issue 22, 2004.
Hawke, Richard R. Hardy Geraniums. Chicagoland Gardening, May/June 2004.
August 2007