Geranium 'Orion'

Overview and Features

Geranium 'Orion' is a superb, long-flowering hardy Cranesbill prized for its rich violet-blue blooms, vigorous growth, and long seasonal interest. A hybrid closely related to the popular Geranium 'Brookside', ‘Orion’ stands out with larger flowers, more intense colour, and a strong, clump-forming habit that performs reliably in most garden conditions.

Its generous display of large, saucer-shaped flowers and finely cut foliage make it an excellent choice for borders, underplanting shrubs, or cottage garden schemes.

• Botanical Name: Geranium 'Orion'

• Common Name: Cranesbill

• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial

• Family: Geraniaceae

• Height & Spread: 60 cm tall × 60–90 cm wide

• Flowers: Bright violet-blue with a white centre and purple veins

• Foliage: Deeply lobed, mid-green leaves with good seasonal texture

• Flowering Period: Late spring to early autumn (May to October)

• Growth Habit: Mounding, spreading

• Hardiness: Fully hardy (H7 – down to -20°C or lower)

Planting Position and Soil Requirements

Light

• Performs best in full sun for optimal flowering

• Tolerates partial shade, especially in hot or dry climates

• Suitable for mixed borders, wildlife gardens, and informal planting

Soil

• Prefers moist, well-drained soil

• Will grow in loam, sandy, or light clay soils

• Ideal pH: neutral to slightly alkaline

• Avoid very heavy or waterlogged soils

Watering, Feeding, and Seasonal Care

Watering

• Keep evenly moist during the first growing season

• Once established, it’s reasonably drought-tolerant, though flowers better with consistent moisture

• In dry conditions, occasional deep watering supports strong bloom performance

Feeding

• Low nutrient requirements

• Apply a balanced granular fertiliser in early spring

• Optional: mulch with compost or leaf mould annually to enrich the soil and improve structure

Maintenance

• Deadhead spent blooms to extend the flowering period

• In midsummer, if the plant becomes leggy or untidy, shear back hard—it will regrow and often re-bloom

• In autumn or early spring, cut back the remaining foliage to ground level

• Divide clumps every 3–4 years to rejuvenate and control spread

Garden Uses and Plant Combinations

Geranium 'Orion' is a reliable and versatile plant for both informal and structured garden settings. It combines strong seasonal performance with excellent garden presence.

Best Planting Locations

• Perennial borders

• Cottage gardens

• Underplanting roses or shrubs

• Wildlife-friendly and pollinator gardens

• Along paths or front-of-border spots

Ideal Companion Plants

• Salvia nemorosa, Campanula, and Nepeta for a blue-toned colour theme

• Roses, especially soft pink or white, for romantic underplanting

• Alchemilla mollis, Digitalis, and Astrantia in layered borders

• Grasses like Stipa tenuissima for texture contrast

Key Benefits and Selling Points

• Large, vivid flowers for maximum visual impact

• Long flowering season from late spring into autumn

• Easy to grow and low maintenance

• Pollinator-friendly—great for bees and hoverflies

• Offers excellent ground coverage and weed suppression

• Reliable and vigorous, yet well-behaved in mixed plantings

• Holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit, confirming its outstanding garden value

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.