Geraniumspp.
Cranesbill geranium , also known as hardy or true geranium , are prized for their pretty , saucer - shaped flowers , long flowering fourth dimension , vigorous sprawl habit , and light care .
The single or double blooms flower in shades of blue , mauve , pink , imperial , or clean from other summertime through to first frost .
And the gently scrambling plants are excellent as seasonal ground covers , tumbling over retain walls , spilling from containers , or as a filler in borders and mixed beds .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
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With their long flowering time , the nectar- and pollen - laden flowers appeal several species of bees and other pollinators but are mostly resistant to range herbivore like cervid and rabbit .
A long - lived perennial , growth is dense in the first couple of years . But once a cumulation is formed , cranesbill geraniums put on a firm performance all season long .
Photo by Lorna Kring.
So if you are looking for some well-to-do tutelage perennial with a long anthesis time of year , let ’s plunk into how to grow and care for crane’s bill geraniums .
Here ’s what I ’ll cover :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
cultivar to choose
Maintenance
Propagation
Pests and Disease
Cranesbills are herbaceous perennials in theGeraniumgenus , part of the Geraniaceae family , and should n’t be confused with eitherscented geraniumsorgarden geraniumswhich belong to the genusPelargonium .
aboriginal to temperate regions around the world , Geraniumspecies can be detect nodding in alpine and lowland meadows , prairies , rocky slopes , and mixed woodlands .
Common name(s):Cranesbill , intrepid , or on-key geranium
Plant eccentric : Herbaceous perennial
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):4 - 9
Native to : Temperate regions of Asia , Europe , and North America
Bloom time / time of year : Early summertime to fall
Exposure : Full sun to light shade
Soil eccentric : Humus rich , loamy , well - draining
grease pH:6.0 to 7.5 , slightly acidic to somewhat alkaline
Time to maturity:3 - 5 eld ( from seed )
Mature size:12 - 36 inches across-the-board x 6 - 24 inch high
good uses : Borders , assorted beds , earth cover , containers
Taxonomy
Order : Geraniales
Family : Geraniaceae
Genus : Geranium
Species : Clarkei , himalayense , maculatum , psilostemon , sanguineum
The genus name comes from the Hellenic “ geranos ” for crane , and the common name of crane’s bill is Old English , touch to the long , nib - same yield capsules that form after flowering .
A generally mounding works , the dark green leave have a light , citrusy redolence and grow alternately in a roughly orbitual shape , with five - petaled flower stomach on touchy , branched shank .
The roundish leave are lobed or heavily cleft , and many mixture bid late season interest with colorful foliation in burnish bronzes , Robert Brown , red , and yellows .
They grow in a range of mountains of six to 24 inch tall with a spread of 12 to 24 column inch .
Easily cultivated and low maintenance , these reliable garden loyalist put on a liberal , if jolly miserable - key , display of wizardly pastel beauty from early summertime to fall .
Cranesbills are easy - precaution plants and once established , require only a petty attention from the nurseryman .
Here ’s what they like for optimum carrying into action :
Climate
Geraniumplants are from temperate region and grow most smartly in warm , but not too hot , daytime temperatures with cool night .
As herbaceous works , all the foliage dies back after the first hard frosts arrive , with new growth emerging in mid - spring the undermentioned year .
They ’re hardy in USDA zone 4 to 9 , with variations in cold temperature margin depending on the cultivar .
Light
The idealistic kindling for the most floriferous plant is to provide stipulation like to their meadow margins and woodland abode .
Full sunin the morning and lite shade in the good afternoon – to forbid sunlight scorch from intense sun – is their glad place .
context such as open areas under tall Tree , gardens with an eastern predilection , or shoulder tall shrubs in mixed beds are adept choices .
Soil
Cranesbills can grow in a variety of dirt include shabu , loam , and sandy medium .
But for the most robust increase and an abundance of flush all time of year , loamy , hummus - rich , and well - draining soil is best .
To enrich your land , mix in a generous one or two part of compost , well - rotted manure , orworm castingswith two or three parts of good character garden soil .
To ameliorate the soil ’s drainage , mix in one part of grit using materials such as landscape Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin , pea gravel , perlite , or endocarp chips to heighten the grain and better H2O flow .
Temperature and Humidity
For robust emergence , cranesbills prefer daytime temperatures between 70 and 85 ° atomic number 9 and cooler nights of 55 to 65 ° F .
They require temperate humidity levels in the stove of 40 to 60 percent .
Avoid desiccated condition with low humidness which can stimulate drooping , wilting , and low flower production .
And avoid excessive humidity as well to evade fungal emergence such as powdery mold and root rot .
Water
sturdy geranium like to keep their roots cool in ground that ’s lightly moist but not soaking wet .
aspire to provide crane’s bill geranium withone or two inches of waterper week , depending on rain , how much Dominicus they receive , and ambient temperature .
But recall that container - grown specimen typically involve more frequent watering when temperatures soar up .
Fertilizing
When grown in rich soil , hardy geraniums expect small additional feeding but do do good from having their nutrients “ topped up ” each year .
In springtime after fresh growth emerges , apply a topdressing ofcompost , manure , or louse cast , spreading a one- or two - column inch layer of organic matter over the root zone – which also helps to retain soil moisture .
If your soil is poor quality , along with the outpouring topdressing , a slow release , granular plant food can be apply in spring using a balanced formula such as 5 - 5 - 5 ( NPK ) or a prime - boosting ratio like 4 - 6 - 4 .
Enhanced All Purpose Plant Food
Burpee carriestheir own - make Enhanced All Purpose Plant Food that can be applied accord to package direction .
instead , a liquid or water soluble provender may be used . utilise in late spring when new growth is at least six inches tall and reapply after six week if want .
However , it ’s important to avoid overfertilizing – like most plant that bask lightly shadowy condition and moist soil , overfertilizing is one of the main movement of sprawl , lanky development .
If you give your crane’s bill geranium a midsummer shearing to remold lanky limbs , a second program of slow release fertilizer can be applied after lop . More on shearing in a bit !
Now permit ’s tally out a few noteworthy varieties .
With dozens of cultivars available , there ’s plenty of option . Here are a few democratic options to think starting with .
Boom Chocolatta
Loaded with masses of mauve flush , ‘ Boom Chocolatta ’ also skylark gorgeous foliage in chocolaty bronze .
‘ Boom Chocolatta ’
The mounding , erect growth is idealistic for muckle planting or as a makeweight in beds and borders . Plants are hardy in zone 4 to 8 .
Bare root plants areavailable at Burpeeand in one - Imperial gallon containersat Nature Hills Nursery .
Havana Blues
The singular coloring of ‘ Havana Blues ’ feature large , pretty drear mauve flowers with magenta veining and new leaf of bright chartreuse .
‘ Havana Blues ’
A tidy , low growing cultivar with a vigorous spread , ‘ Havana Blues ’ makes a good selection for ground covers , underplanting shrub , and incottage gardens . Hardy in Zones 5 to 8 .
Bare root flora areavailable at Burpee .
Tiny Monster
A miniature cultivar , the compact ‘ Tiny Monster ’ is extremely floriferous with cloud of fuchsia pink flowers and leafage with gorgeous dip shades of bronze , cerise , and purple .
‘ petite Monster ’
A beautiful choice for beds , borders , containers , butt on , and ground covers . Hardy in Zones 4 to 8 .
works are available in one - gallon containersat Nature Hills Nursery .
Cranesbill geranium have few needs , but a short regular maintenance assist to keep plant tidy , goodish , and producing plenty of blooms .
To maintain their visible light , ethereal class with a adorable spreading habit , deadhead on a regular basis to advance more blossom .
Shearing
In some situations , such as too much shade or overfertilizing , they can become gangling and expend - looking at , with long , leafless stems and only a few flowers at the tips .
To quickly restore a full shape and encourage more flowers , shear industrial plant back in midsummer by up to one - half of their overall size .
Winter Care
In fall after the foliage has yellowed and die out back , cut back any stem still attached to the crown , cutting them close to the soil .
skim up and dispose of any remaining industrial plant junk .
A protective winter mulch can be good to insulate the source and protect them from heaving in freeze / thaw cycle .
During dormancy , place a two- to four - inchlayer of mulchover the crown and root zone , using materials with a lofty structure such as tear up leave , chopped barque , or straw .
displume back and take winter mulches after the grease thaw in late winter or early spring .
Propagating cranesbill geraniums is sluttish , you’re able to either seed seed , take bow cutting , or antecedent section .
And because cranesbills self - seed gently , volunteer seedlings are often available for transplanting .
From Seed
Sowing seeds is true , but it can take a few years for seed - bulge plants to bloom .
To pull in source , wait until the seed pods dry out out and darken , changing color from green to browned , gray-headed , or tan . This happens about a calendar month after flowering .
But do n’t right smart too long after the color changes – they involve to be harvest before the mericarps assort and eject the seeds .
Many miscellany need frigid stratification for sprouting . Place wry seeds in an envelope and typeset them in the refrigerator for up to 60 day .
Or you may simply purchase pre - treated seeds of your favorite cultivars .
Taking base cuttings is another ready option for starting new plants .
From Stem Cuttings
Choose semi - advanced stems from the current class ’s increase and collect from midsummer to mid - fall .
habituate sporting , sharp shear to snip base three or four in long , ignore just above a set of leave .
Dip the cut end in a rooting internal secretion powder then place cuttings in four - inch pots filled with good quality potting soil that has a light-colored , sandy grain .
Bonide Bontone II Rooting Hormone
If you need rooting endocrine , you’re able to find Bonide Bontone IIavailable from Arbico Organics .
Water mildly to settle stems then insert them into a protected location outdoors that receives morning sun and good afternoon subtlety . or else you may keep them indoors or in agreenhouse .
Allow the cuttings to grow for a year before plant out , secure the soil stays lightly moist and scratching in a teaspoon of slow - liberation fertilizer pellets into the medium in spring .
Learn geranium from stem cuttings here .
Root Division
Most hardy geranium populate longer if they are divide every three to five year . When you see that the center growth is dying out , it ’s time to divide .
Divide cranesbill geranium anytime from early spring to early summertime , as this gives them flock of time to make roots before cold weather condition get in . Here ’s how :
Until they are establish , piss on a regular basis to keep the territory lightly moist .
Managing Pests and Disease
True geranium are quite tough and resilient with few problems , but there are a dyad of yield to watch for .
Pests
Common pests you might do across are mostly sapsuckers such asaphids , spider mites , andthrips .
A strong nebuliser of waterfrom the garden hosecan dispatch many pesky louse or plants can be sprayed with a born pesticide such as neem oil .
Bonide Neem Oil
you may find Bonide Neem Oilavailable from Arbico Organics .
Disease
Fungal payoff such aspowdery mildewand bacterial problems like leaf spot can stymie maturation .
Both can be address by polish off the infected surface area of the plant with light , sharp shear then spray with a innate fungicide such as neem oil .
Be trusted to clean your shear afterwards with bleach to prevent spreading disease – a result of one part bleach to nine parts H2O work well .
Hardworking Perennials
The cranesbill geranium is everything good about hardworking perennial !
Their tutelage and feeding prerequisite are simple , they accommodate to multiple garden locations , and they dependably bring colourful blooms all summer long .
Just give your works regular water , some afternoon shade , and a good shearing if they get a bit too leggy .
Then relax , plain back , and enjoy the show !
And for more information aboutgrowing geranium in the garden , check out these guide next :
Photos by Lorna Kring © require the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally published August 14 , 2017 . Last update February 10 , 2025 . Product pic via Arbico Organics , Burpee , and Nature Hills Nursery . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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