Purple cranesbill

Sun

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

Water

Moderate; water regularly while establishing, then during prolonged dry spells. Established clumps tolerate some drought but flower and retain their foliage better with even moisture.

Soil

Well-drained soil with moderate fertility; tolerates clay, loam and sandy soil if drainage is adequate. Avoid persistently wet ground.

Height

1.5-2.5 ft (0.45-0.75 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Violet-blue to purple flowers with dark purple veins, mainly in late spring and early summer; the main display lasts several weeks.

Foliage

Rounded, deeply lobed, softly hairy green leaves; often turns red or orange in autumn before dying back.

Growth

Moderate; develops into a substantial clump over several growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• 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

   1.3 ft (0.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   1.6 ft (0.5 m)

4. After 3 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

   full size

About 3 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

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the soil begins to dry.
• Spread a thin layer of compost around the clump in spring; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Mulch to conserve moisture, keeping mulch away from the crown.
• Water during extended summer drought if leaves begin to wilt or brown.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring or early autumn when growth or flowering declines.

Pruning. After flowering, shear off spent stems and tired foliage to encourage fresh leaves; a substantial second flush of flowers is unlikely. Remove remaining dead growth in late winter or early spring before new shoots develop.

Early spring

Remove dead foliage and apply a thin layer of compost around established clumps.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps and water thoroughly.

Late spring

Check moisture during dry weather as flower stems develop.

Early summer

Shear back spent flower stems and untidy leaves after the main display.

Summer

Water during prolonged drought to support fresh foliage.

Early autumn

Divide or transplant if needed, allowing time for roots to establish before freezing weather.

• Plant in groups along the front or middle of a mixed border for a broad sweep of violet-blue flowers.
• Use beneath roses to cover bare lower stems without climbing into the shrubs.
• Combine with upright salvias and catmint for contrasting flower shapes and a longer seasonal display.
• Edge lightly shaded paths or deciduous shrub borders with its mounds of lobed foliage.

Garden styles it suits: English country, Cottage garden, Arts and Crafts, Romantic rose garden, Blues and silvers and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Roses, Catmint, Woodland sage, Lady's mantle, Bearded iris and Ornamental onions.

Wildlife: The open flowers provide forage for visiting bees. Although the hybrid is sterile and produces no useful seed crop, its flowers still attract pollinators.

• Powdery mildew can coat leaves in dry, crowded conditions; improve airflow, water the soil during drought and remove badly affected foliage.
• Slugs and snails may damage emerging shoots; check young growth and use barriers or an approved iron-phosphate bait where needed.
• Crown rot can occur in waterlogged soil; improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position.
• Leaves may scorch or collapse in hot, dry weather; provide afternoon shade, water deeply and trim away damaged growth.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is not an edible plant, and eating garden foliage can still cause digestive upset.

• Rozanne cranesbill (Geranium 'Gerwat')

  Usually sold as Rozanne, it has violet-blue flowers with conspicuous pale centres and a long flowering season extending into autumn, rather than a short, concentrated early-summer display.

• Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)

  Typically has more finely divided leaves and a taller, more open habit; fertile plants develop the pointed seed capsules absent from sterile purple cranesbill.

Geranium comes from the Greek word for crane, referring to the beak-shaped fruits of the genus, while magnificum means magnificent or splendid.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring or early autumn, retaining healthy roots and shoots on each section. This sterile hybrid cannot be reliably propagated from seed.

Accepted botanical name

Geranium magnificum

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