| PRONUNCIATION |
jer-RAY-nee-um |
| COMMON NAME |
Cranesbill |
| SYNONYMS |
Hardy Geranium, "True" Geranium |
| DERIVATION |
Cranesbill - for the beaklike fruit that follows the blooms |
| FAMILY |
Geraniaceae - Geranium |
| TYPE |
hardy perennials |
| USES |
as ground cover, as edger, in rock gardens, borders, woodlands, under shrubs - depending on species or cultivar |
| FLOWER |
abundant, 5-petalled, cup- or saucer-shaped, on wandlike stems |
| COLOUR |
various |
| FOLIAGE |
mound-forming, deeply divided |
| COLOUR |
varies |
| HARDINESS |
Zone 3 but may vary from species to species |
| EXPOSURE |
sun or light-to-medium shade, prefers some shade during hottest part of the day |
| SOIL |
well-drained, rich, moist |
| WATER |
extra water may be required during droughts |
| HEIGHT |
from 4" - 48", depending on species and/or cultivar |
| SPREAD |
varies |
| BLOOM |
most bloom from late spring to early summer, and possibly later in the season if entire plant is cut back after the first flush of flowers |
| STAKING |
not necessary with most forms |
| DEADHEAD |
as soon as flowers fade |
| PROBLEMS |
slugs, especially during spring |
| AFTERCARE |
cut foliage back to 1" from the ground when first bloom is over to stimulate new growth and later rebloom |
| FALL CARE |
cut to ground after a hard frost |
| PROPAGATION |
cuttings: (semi-ripe) summer;
division: NO! All forms have long roots that do not divide well; take small slips from outside of clumps with a few small rootlets attached and transplant these;
root cuttings in spring or fall; set cuttings 1 inch deep
seeds: species only |
| SEED CULTURE |
species only; sow ripe autumn or spring; seedlings bloom in 2-3 yrs. |
| FERTILIZER |
top-dress in spring with compost, well-rotten manure or a balanced organic fertilizer |
| MULCH |
|
| FORMS |
Geranium x cantabrigiense: 8-12"x12" alpine or border type
Geranium cinereum: Grayleaf Cranesbill, 4-6"x12" alpine type
Geranium clarkei: Clark's Geranium, 12-18"x18" border type
Geranium dalmaticum: Dalmatian Cranesbill, 4-6"x12" alpine type
Geranium endressii: Endres Cranesbill12-18"x12-24" border type
Geranium himalayense: Lilac Cranesbill, 12-18"x24" border type
Geranium x 'Johnson's Blue': 12-24"x24" border type, Geranium himalayense x Geranium pratense
Geranium macrorrhizum: Bigroot Geranium, 12"x24" border type, excellent ground cover
Geranium maculatum: Wild Cranesbill, Spotted Cranesbill, for bright shade or woodlands
Geranium x magnificum: Showy Geranium, 18-24"x24" border type, as showy as the name suggests
Geranium x oxonianum: 18-24"x24" border type, Geranium endressii x Geranium versicolor
Geranium phaeum: Dusky Cranesbill, Mourning Widow,18-24"x24", perfect shade specimen
Geranium pratense: Meadow Cranesbill
Geranium psilostemon: Armenian Cranesbill, 3-4'x3', good focal point because of its height
Geranium renardii: 12"x12", unique puckered yet soft foliage invites touching
Geranium sanguineum: Bloody Cranesbill, 9-12"x12" border type
Geranium sylvaticum: Wood Cranesbill, 18-24"x24" excellent woodlander
Geranium wallichianum: 12"x24" alpine or border type |
| PERFECT PARTNER |
Hemerocallis (Daylily) - Plant a hardy geranium in front of a favourite daylily:
- when the geranium blooms in spring-early summer, daylily foliage is just sprouting
- after the geranium has been cut back, the daylily bloom will be starting
- then, when the daylily blooms begin to fade, the geranium foliage will be lush and full once again
|
| LEARN MORE |
This genus is so rich and diverse, you may want to search out books that can tell you much more including the few mentioned below:
- Hardy Geraniums: The Complete Guide to the Genus - Peter Yeo
- Gardener's Guide to Growing Geraniums - Trevor Bath & Joy Jones
- Gardening with Hardy Geraniums - Birgitte Husted Bendtsen * my favourite - gorgeous
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| COMPANION PLANTS |
PLANT PARTNERSHIPS
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BLUE PERENNIALS 