Hardy geranium

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering is usually best with at least 6 hours of sun. Afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season. Once established, water during prolonged dry spells; it tolerates some drought but dislikes waterlogged soil.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or chalky soil, from slightly acidic to alkaline. Tolerates clay if drainage is good.

Height

0.75-1.5 ft (0.2-0.45 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Late spring to midsummer, sometimes with scattered flowers into autumn; the species has magenta-pink flowers with darker veins. Cultivars may be pale pink, purple-pink or white.

Foliage

Small, rounded leaves cut deeply into narrow lobes, forming a dense mound. Leaves often turn red in autumn before dying back.

Growth

Moderate; spreads gradually through short rhizomes and may self-seed.

Care needed

Low

• Water new plants deeply when the soil begins to dry; reduce watering once roots are established.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring on poor soil; avoid heavy feeding, which encourages floppy growth.
• Keep mulch clear of the crown, especially where winters are wet.
• Divide congested clumps in spring or early autumn if flowering declines or they outgrow their space.
• No staking is normally needed.

Pruning. After the main flowering flush, trim spent flower stems and any tired foliage, leaving healthy basal growth; water if the soil is dry to encourage fresh leaves and possible repeat flowers. Remove dead foliage in late winter or early spring before new growth develops.

Late winter

Remove dead leaves and stems without damaging emerging shoots.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps, water them in thoroughly and add a little compost if the soil is poor.

Late spring

Check new plants for dry soil and watch young leaves for slug damage.

Summer

Trim spent flower stems and ragged foliage after the main display; water during prolonged drought.

Early autumn

Divide or move plants while the soil is still warm, allowing time for roots to establish before hard frost.

Autumn

Enjoy the red foliage, then leave healthy dying growth in place or remove it if it becomes a wet mat.

• Edge paths and the fronts of borders with low mounds that soften hard lines without needing staking.
• Plant beneath shrub roses to cover bare stems and carry colour below the rose flowers.
• Use between rocks or along gravel borders where drainage is good, allowing the foliage to spill over edges.
• Repeat small groups among catmint, salvia and ornamental grasses for a loose, bee-friendly planting.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Dry gravel garden, Pollinator garden, Low-maintenance and New perennial (prairie).

Plant it with: Shrub roses, Catmint, Hardy salvia, Lavender, Yarrow and Feather reed grass.

Wildlife: Open flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other visiting insects. Deer and rabbits often leave it alone, although browsing is still possible.

• Slugs and snails may chew emerging leaves: remove hiding places, hand-pick at dusk and use labelled iron-phosphate bait if needed.
• Powdery mildew can develop in crowded or stressed plants: improve airflow, water during drought and remove badly affected foliage.
• Crown or root rot can kill plants in persistently wet soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a raised position; discard rotted crowns.
• Floppy growth and sparse flowering usually indicate too much shade or rich feeding: move to a brighter position and stop high-nitrogen fertiliser.

Geranium sanguineum is not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard, but it is not a food plant. Do not confuse it with Pelargonium, also commonly called geranium, which can be toxic to pets.

• Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)

  Usually much taller and more upright, with larger leaves and typically blue to violet flowers rather than the low mound and magenta-pink flowers of G. sanguineum.

• Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum)

  Has broader, less finely divided, strongly aromatic leaves and thick surface rhizomes; it often retains more foliage through winter.

• Cut-leaved cranesbill (Geranium dissectum)

  An annual weed with very small pink flowers and slender, sprawling stems, rather than the larger flowers and persistent perennial clump of G. sanguineum.

Geranium comes from the Greek word for crane, referring to the beak-shaped seed capsule, while sanguineum means blood-red and refers to the red autumn foliage.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring or early autumn. The species can also be raised from seed, which may need a cold period before germinating; seedlings from named cultivars may not match the parent, so divide those to preserve their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Geranium sanguineum

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Alaska, Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland and France.

Measured

Soil pH 7.5 to 8. Average height 34 cm.

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