Ballerina cranesbill

Sun

Full sun; light afternoon shade is helpful in hot summers.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Avoid constantly damp soil.

Soil

Well-drained, moderately fertile soil, preferably gritty or gravelly; tolerates acid, neutral and alkaline conditions.

Height

0.3-0.5 ft (0.1-0.15 m)

Spread

0.7-1 ft (0.2-0.3 m)

Flowers

Late spring through summer, sometimes repeating into early autumn; pale pink to lilac-pink flowers with dark purple veins and dark centres.

Foliage

Small, rounded, deeply lobed grey-green leaves form a low cushion. Foliage may persist in mild winters but usually dies back in cold climates.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.4 ft (0.13 m)

   full size

About 4 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the crown at soil level in a position that drains freely.
• Water at soil level during establishment; let the surface dry between waterings once established.
• On heavy soil, use a raised bed or container rather than a planting hole filled with grit.
• Apply a light top-dressing of compost in spring only if growth is weak; avoid heavy feeding.
• Keep wet organic mulch away from the crown; a thin gravel mulch suits this plant.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems to encourage further flowering. In early spring, trim away dead leaves without cutting into the living crown; lightly tidy untidy foliage after the first flush of flowers.

Early spring

Remove dead foliage and check that the crown has not become buried under mulch or fallen leaves.

Spring

Plant or divide established clumps as growth begins; water divisions until rooted.

Late spring

Check young growth for slug damage and remove damaged leaves.

Summer

Remove spent flower stems and water during prolonged dry weather.

Early autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil is warm, allowing time for roots to establish before winter.

Winter

Keep fallen leaves off the crown and check that containers drain freely.

• Tuck into sunny rock gardens beside small sedums and dwarf dianthus for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Repeat along the front of a small border to create a low ribbon of pink flowers.
• Plant beside gravel paths or paving edges where its compact cushions will not obstruct the route.
• Grow in troughs or shallow alpine containers with drainage holes and a gritty potting mix.

Garden styles it suits: Alpine rock garden, Dry gravel garden, Cottage garden, Pastel border, Small-space and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Dwarf dianthus, Creeping thyme, Rock rose, Low-growing stonecrop, Dalmatian bellflower and Dwarf bearded iris.

Wildlife: The open flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other visiting insects.

• Crown or root rot in wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised bed; avoid wet mulch around the crown.
• Slugs and snails on fresh growth: inspect after dark, remove pests and use iron-phosphate bait according to the label if needed.
• Vine weevil larvae, particularly in pots: inspect roots if the plant wilts unexpectedly and use an appropriate biological control where available.
• Powdery mildew in dry, crowded conditions: improve airflow, water the root zone during drought and remove badly affected leaves.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no parts are recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. This hardy Geranium is different from Pelargonium, also commonly called geranium, which can be toxic to pets.

• Bloody cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum)

  Usually makes a larger, more spreading plant with more finely divided green leaves; most forms have stronger magenta flowers rather than the pale, heavily veined flowers of 'Ballerina'.

• Biokovo cranesbill (Geranium × cantabrigiense 'Biokovo')

  Forms a broader, spreading mat with aromatic green foliage and near-white, pink-tinged flowers lacking the bold dark veining and dark eye of 'Ballerina'.

Geranium comes from the Greek word for crane, referring to the beak-like seed capsule, while cinereum means ash-grey, describing the foliage.

Propagation. Divide healthy clumps in spring, retaining roots and growing shoots on each piece, or take basal cuttings in spring. Seed-grown plants may differ from 'Ballerina', so use vegetative propagation to preserve the cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Geranium cinereum

Native range

France and Spain.

Measured

Soil pH 4 to 4.5.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.