Oxford cranesbill 'Wargrave Pink'

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot summers.

Water

Water regularly during establishment, then during prolonged dry spells. Established plants tolerate some drought but flower better with moderate moisture.

Soil

Well-drained soil, including clay improved with organic matter; tolerates acidic, neutral and alkaline conditions. Avoid persistently waterlogged ground.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Salmon-pink flowers with fine darker veins from late spring through summer, sometimes continuing or repeating into autumn.

Foliage

Rounded, deeply lobed green leaves form broad, leafy clumps. Usually deciduous in cold winters, but some foliage may persist in mild climates.

Growth

Fast

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

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

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.2 ft (0.38 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 2 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

Fast

• Water new plants deeply whenever the root zone begins to dry during their first growing season.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; rich feeding is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch around plants to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the crown.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring or early autumn to control their spread.
• Pull unwanted seedlings while small; they may not match the named cultivar.

Pruning. After the main flush of flowers, shear back spent stems and tired foliage to just above the crown, then water to encourage fresh growth and possible repeat bloom. Remove remaining dead foliage in late winter or early spring.

Early spring

Remove dead foliage and divide established clumps if they have outgrown their space.

Spring

Plant into well-drained soil, water thoroughly and add a light compost mulch.

Late spring

Check around established plants for unwanted seedlings and remove them before they become rooted among neighbours.

Summer

Cut back after the main flowering flush and water during prolonged dry weather.

Early autumn

Plant or divide where winters are mild enough for roots to establish before the ground freezes.

Late autumn

Remove collapsed or diseased foliage, but leave healthy leaves that remain green.

• Plant beneath shrub roses to cover bare lower stems and soften the edge of the planting.
• Use along informal paths, allowing the foliage to spill over the edge without blocking the walkway.
• Weave between salvias and catmint for a long-flowering pink, purple and blue border.
• Mass beneath deciduous shrubs in light shade to reduce exposed soil and help suppress weeds.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, Romantic rose garden, Pastel border, Pollinator garden and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Shrub roses, Catmint, Perennial salvia, Lady's mantle, Astrantia and Foxgloves.

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

• Powdery mildew can affect foliage in dry, crowded conditions; improve airflow, water the soil during drought and remove badly affected leaves.
• Vine weevil larvae can damage roots, particularly in containers; inspect declining plants and use an appropriate biological nematode treatment when soil temperatures suit.
• Clumps may flop or look ragged after flowering; shear them back and water to encourage a fresh mound of foliage.
• Self-seeding can crowd nearby plants; remove seedheads before they ripen and pull seedlings promptly.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not a food plant and should not be eaten.

• French cranesbill (Geranium endressii)

  One of the hybrid's parents, with similar foliage and flowers; its flowers are generally clearer pink rather than the salmon-pink typical of 'Wargrave Pink'. The two can be difficult to separate without a reliable label.

• Pencilled cranesbill (Geranium versicolor)

  The other parent has whitish to very pale pink flowers with a conspicuous network of purple veins, rather than an overall salmon-pink flower.

Geranium comes from the Greek word for crane, referring to the beak-shaped fruit, while oxonianum means 'of Oxford'.

Propagation. Divide clumps in spring or early autumn to retain the cultivar's characteristics. Seedlings may differ from 'Wargrave Pink', so do not rely on seed for identical plants.

Accepted botanical name

Geranium oxonianum

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