Hardy geranium (Geranium × monacense 'Muldoon')
Geranium × monacense 'Muldoon' is a shade-loving Hardy geranium offering maroon-purple blooms. Low maintenance and deer resistant.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’, commonly known within the group as Hardy geranium, provides excellent color and texture for shaded areas of the garden. This hybrid produces beautiful, low-mounding foliage topped with distinctive maroon-purple flowers that bloom reliably from late spring into summer. Gardeners value this specific cultivar, Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’, for its tolerance of deep shade—a challenging environment for many flowering perennials.
This herbaceous perennial establishes itself quickly into a spreading mound, offering density and ground coverage where grass struggles. Its tolerance for deer and rabbits further increases its appeal in varied settings, minimizing ongoing maintenance concerns for the home gardener. Its cultural needs suggest favoring rich, moist soil conditions, rewarding proper placement with season-long performance.
A key advantage of integrating this Hardy geranium into your landscape is its resilience; when summer heat overwhelms the plant, a quick shearing rejuvenates the foliage and can spur repeat blooming. This responsiveness, combined with low general maintenance, makes Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ a highly practical choice for adding consistent, cool-toned color to woodland borders or shaded patios.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Geraniaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 1.5-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to August
- Bloom Description: Maroon purple
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ should ideally occur in the spring or early fall when temperatures are moderate. Ensure placement allows this Hardy geranium to receive part shade to full shade; unlike many related species, this cultivar genuinely thrives when shaded from the hottest afternoon sun. The key to success lies in the soil: aim for an average, well-drained medium that is kept consistently moist and organically rich.
Watering should be consistent to maintain medium moisture levels, especially during dry spells, as soil should not be allowed to dry out completely. Fertilization is generally unnecessary if the soil is already rich in organic matter. Pruning is primarily aesthetic or restorative; side stems can be consistently trimmed back to control the plant’s spread and maintain a neat appearance throughout the season.
If the summer heat causes the foliage of your Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ to look tired or cease flowering, utilize timely cutting or shearing. Cutting the foliage back by half or more will refresh the plant’s appearance, encourage new growth, and often trigger a second flush of that attractive maroon-purple bloom. This resilience is a significant benefit of growing this particular variety.
Landscape Uses
Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ excels in locations where direct, searing sun is unavailable. It performs beautifully when integrated into the part shade areas of perennial borders, providing low, textured contrast against taller summer bloomers. Its spreading habit also makes it an excellent choice for softening the edges of pathways or filling in spaces within cottage gardens, creating that desired informal, lush look.
Due to the plant’s tolerance for heavy shade, it is a superb candidate for open woodland gardens where it can mimic its naturalized environment flowing between established trees. Grouping several Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ together offers mass impact, or using it as a specimen plant near a shaded entryway draws attention to its unique flower color, which consists of reflexed petals and a whitish center ring.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Geranium × monacense is a hybrid cross between G. Phaeum and G. Reflexum, which results in its spreading mound habit, reaching about 18 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The cultivar ‘Muldoon’ is especially noted for its rich maroon-purple colors set off by a whitish center ring on the reflexed petals. Furthermore, the lobed green leaves often display attractive purple-brown blotches, enhancing its ornamental value even when not in bloom.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
Potential Problems
This Hardy geranium generally experiences no serious insect or disease problems, contributing significantly to its low maintenance rating. Vigilant gardeners should focus primarily on cultural management rather than pest control. Avoid planting in areas prone to poor drainage, as soggy winter soil is the primary threat to the crown health of most geraniums. In excessively hot and dry conditions, the foliage will decline; ensure adequate moisture if attempting to grow this species near the upper limits of its hardiness range.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Hardy geranium suitable for?
This variety, Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’, is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 7.
How large does Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ grow?
It typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, spreading to 1.5 to 2 feet wide, forming a neat, dense mound.
What sun exposure does Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ need?
This plant prefers part shade conditions but tolerates heavy shade exceptionally well, requiring protection from intense afternoon sunlight.
When does Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ bloom?
The primary bloom time is from May to August, showcasing striking maroon purple flowers.
Conclusion
The reliability and ease of care offered by Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’ make it an indispensable choice for adding consistent color to difficult, shaded garden spots. Its deep purple blooms contrast beautifully with its subtly patterned foliage, offering long-season interest. Before planting, confirm your location falls within USDA Zones 5-7 and ensure the soil provides the rich, medium moisture this Hardy geranium requires for optimal performance.
Companion Planting
When selecting companions for Geranium × monacense ‘Muldoon’, focus on plants that share its preference for moist, well-drained soil and shade conditions to create a cohesive understory planting scheme. Hostas provide excellent broad-leaf texture contrast against the fine foliage of the Hardy geranium, while ferns like the Japanese Painted Fern add airy elegance nearby. For continued seasonal interest, consider pairing it with early spring bloomers like snowdrops (Galanthus) or later-blooming shade perennials such as Astilbe.
Seasonal Care Calendar
For spring preparation, remove any winter debris and lightly incorporate compost around the base of the established clumps to replenish soil organics. Throughout the active growing season (late spring through mid-summer), maintain consistent medium watering, particularly if natural rainfall is sparse in your shaded location. As noted, be ready to shear back the foliage in mid-summer if it begins to look spent due to heat, ensuring cleanup is completed before the onset of autumn dormancy.
