HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR HARDY GERANIUM (CRANESBILL)
This carefree perennial provides long-lasting color to beds, borders and containers
'Rozanne' geranium. Photo by: Walters Gardens, Inc.
One of the easiest (and toughest) perennials to grow, hardy geraniums have attractive lobed foliage and cup-shaped flowers in a range of colors. Also known as cranesbill geranium, the genus is named for the Greek word geranos meaning crane, in reference to the berrylike seed heads that resemble the head and beak of a crane.
“Hardy geraniums are praised for their hardiness, ornamental traits and landscape versatility. Whether your interests lie with native plants or exotic cultivars, there are hardy geraniums for every garden,” says Richard Hawke, Plant Evaluation Manager at Chicago Botanic Garden.
Hardy geranium plants have a low, clumping or spreading growth habit, forming a dense carpet that is useful as a ground cover, in mass plantings, as edging, or containers. Native to temperate regions worldwide, these low-maintenance garden plants are easy to grow and adaptable to different growing conditions. Geraniums are virtually maintenance-free once established, and resistant to pests and diseases. The nectar-rich flowers are a source of food for butterflies, bees, and other insect pollinators. Find out more on how to grow and use hardy geranium in your landscape.
On this page: Basics | Planting | Care | Varieties | Frequently Asked Questions | Design Ideas
- BASICS
- HOW TO PLANT CRANESBILL GERANIUMS
- CRANESBILL GERANIUM CARE
- CRANESBILL GERANIUM VARIETIES
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- DESIGN IDEAS
BASICS
Botanical name:
Geranium spp.
Common names:
Geranium, cranesbill, hardy geranium, perennial geranium
Plant type:
Herbaceous, semi-evergreen or evergreen perennial
Zones:
3-9, depending on the variety
Exposure:
Full sun to shade
Habit:
Upright, mounding, creeping, or clumping habit
Mature size:
3 to 36 inches tall, 1 to 3 feet wide, with vining types that grow 3 to 6 feet long
Bloom time:
Late spring to fall, depending on the variety
Foliage:
Leaves are deeply lobed or dissected, occurring in colors of green, bronze, purple, gold, and chartreuse. Some varieties have fall color.
Flowers:
Hardy geranium comes in a range of flower colors including white, pink, magenta, lavender, blue, and violet. The saucer-shaped blooms are 1 to 2 inches wide and come in single or double forms.
'Boom Chocolatta' geranium. Photo by: Proven Winners
"If you are looking to plant something that definitely makes a statement in the garden, as well as size, you may consider giving Boom Chocolatta a try. It's also very pollinator friendly for those of you who are looking to create a pollinator garden,”
'Boom Chocolatta' Geranium video, Heidi Grassman, Garden Crossings.
HOW TO PLANT CRANESBILL GERANIUM
When to plant:
Hardy geraniums are best planted in spring after all danger of frost is past in your area. This will allow an entire growing season for plants to become established.
Where to plant:
Choose a site with full to partial sun and well-drained soil. Some varieties can tolerate moderate to full shade but may not bloom as well.
Soil:
Plants can tolerate a range of soil conditions, though compacted clay or other soil type with poor drainage can lead to root rot or other diseases. Hardy geraniums grow best in moderately rich, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic pH between 6.0 and 6.5. For containers, use a high quality all-purpose potting mix.
Planting:
Loosen soil in the planting area and amend with compost or other organic matter to add nutrients and improve drainage. Dig a hole twice as wide and slightly deeper than the root ball. Remove the plant from its nursery pot and gently tease out roots if potbound. Place the plant in the hole so the top of the root ball is at ground level or slightly higher than the surrounding soil. Fill in the planting hole with soil and gently tamp down to remove air pockets. Water plants regularly until established.
Spacing:
Space plants 1 to 3 feet apart, depending on the variety.
CRANESBILL GERANIUM CARE
Watering:
Hardy geranium plants prefer moderate to low moisture. Some varieties are drought tolerant once established. Allow plants to dry out in between watering. Provide more water during prolonged heat and dry spells. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot, powdery mildew, and other diseases.
Amendments and fertilizer:
Plants that are grown in moderately rich, well-amended soil need little or no supplemental fertilizer, If soil is poor, apply a balanced slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring. Mulch around the base of plants with a thin layer of compost to provide nutrients, suppress weeds, and retain moisture.
Pruning:
In early spring before new growth emerges, remove any dead growth from the previous season. When plants are finished flowering, they can be sheared in mid-summer to stimulate new growth and rebloom.
Dividing:
Hardy geraniums will live longer and be healthier if divided every 3 to 5 years. If the center of the plant dies out, it’s time to divide. This can be done from early spring to early summer. Dig up clumps and cut into several sections. Amend soil, replant and water regularly until established.
Pests and diseases:
When grown in the right conditions, hardy geranium is resilient to most pests and diseases. Pests include aphids, budworm, caterpillars, sawfly, weevil grubs, slugs, and snails. Diseases include leaf spot, powdery mildew, root rot, and rust.
TOP CRANESBILL GERANIUM VARIETIES
Photo by: Proven Winners
'Boom Chocolatta' — Buy now from Proven Winners
Geranium pratense
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to part sun
Habit Upright mounding habit
Height/spread: 24 to 26 inches tall, 28 to 30 inches wide
Bloom time: Early to late summer
Color: Bronze foliage, blue-purple flowers
This striking variety features chocolate-bronze foliage and vibrant blue-purple flowers for stunning contrast in the landscape. ‘Boom Chocolatta’ has a taller stature with a clumping habit and dissected herbaceous leaves. Plant in full sun for best foliage coloring. Contrast with green-foliaged plants in a mixed border or cottage-style garden.
"I just love the dark foliage with the bright blue flowers. Also glad that the neighborhood rabbits leave them alone!" — New York gardener.
Photo by: Walters Gardens, Inc.
'Rozanne'
Geranium hybrid
Zones: 5-8
Exposure: Full sun to part sun
Habit Sprawling habit
Height/spread: 1 to 2 feet tall, 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to early fall
Color: Green foliage, violet-blue flowers
This award-winning variety has the longest bloom time of any hardy geranium. “The hybrid 'Rozanne' is a standout performer, blooming non-stop all summer and well into fall,” notes the experts at the American Horticultural Society. The large 2-inch blooms are vivid violet-blue with a white center, produced atop mounds of deep green marbled foliage. Add to a mixed border or mass in the landscape for long-lasting color.
Photo by: Iva Vagnerova / Shutterstock
'Biokovo'
Geranium x cantabrigiense
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit Mounding habit
Height/spread: 6 to 12 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to mid-summer
Color: Green foliage, white flowers
This award-winning variety, native to the Biokovo Mountains in Europe, has a mat-forming habit, rounded semi-evergreen foliage, and white flowers with showy deep pink stamens. The aromatic green leaves acquire hints of red in fall. Plants tolerate some drought but perform best in rich, moist soil. Use as a ground cover or as border edging.
Photo by: Imladris / Shutterstock
'Ann Folkard'
Geranium hybrid
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit Trailing or creeping habit
Height/spread: 16 to 20 inches tall, 3 to 6 feet wide
Bloom time: Late spring to early fall
Color: Golden chartreuse foliage, magenta flowers
This unique variety has a vigorous trailing growth habit, with bright gold new leaves that shift to chartreuse in summer. Cup-shaped magenta-pink flowers have a deep purple-black eye, offering dramatic contrast to the brilliant foliage. Allow this sprawling plant to grow up through rose bushes or clamor through a mixed border. Avoid planting in deep shade, which will cause foliage color to fade, and provide some afternoon shade in hotter climates.
Photo by: Alex Manders / Shutterstock
'Ballerina'
Geranium cinereum
Zones: 5-9
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit Mounding habit
Height/spread: 6 inches tall, 12 to 18 inches wide
Bloom time: Late spring to early fall
Color: Gray-green foliage, pink and purple flowers
‘Ballerina’ has a neat mounding habit and dissected green foliage. The pale pink flowers have deep purple veining and centers for striking contrast. Use this petite variety in rock gardens, in mass plantings, and as border or pathway edging.
Photo by: Nahhana / Shutterstock
'Birch Double'
Geranium himalayense
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit Mounding habit
Height/spread: 9 to 18 inches tall, 12 to 24 inches wide
Bloom time: Early summer to early fall
Color: Green foliage, violet flowers
‘Birch Double’ is a unique variety with a rhizomatous mat-forming habit and double violet-pink flowers that resemble miniature roses. The deeply serrated green foliage turns shades of red and orange in fall. Use as a stunning focal point in a container, rock garden, or bed.
Photo by: Peter Turner Photography / Shutterstock
'New Hampshire Purple'
Geranium x oxonianum
Zones: 4-8
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Habit Clumping habit
Height/spread: 18 to 24 inches tall and wide
Bloom time: Late spring to summer
Color: Green foliage, pink flowers
‘Wargrave Pink’ is a semi-evergreen variety with a neat clumping habit, deeply lobed leaves and soft salmon-pink flowers for classic elegance in the landscape. Plants perform best in northern climates and are not as tolerant of heat and humidity as some other varieties. Use to edge a cottage-style border, in a rock garden, or as a ground cover.
CRANESBILL GERANIUM FAQ'S: CARE, BLOOMING, AND MORE
What's the difference between annual and perennial geraniums?
While both share the common name of geranium, hardy geranium (Geranium) is a long-lived hardy perennial that survives over the winter in most growing zones, and common geranium (Pelargonium), a warm season tender perennial native to temperate and tropical regions of South Africa and Australia, is hardy in USDA zones 9-12. This popular ornamental plant is most often grown as an annual in containers, or as a bedding plant.
Are hardy geraniums deer resistant?
Hardy geranium has a scent or taste that deer find distasteful. Some varieties are more deer resistant than others. Quick tip: “Geraniums are generally fairly deer resistant and rabbit resistant, and those with the strongest scent to their foliage are the least appetizing to hungry grazers,” say the experts at the American Horticultural Society, Essential Guide to Perennial Gardening. See more deer-resistant plants.
Are cranesbill geraniums toxic?
While annual geraniums (Pelargonium) may be harmful, hardy geraniums are considered non-toxic to pets and humans. Ingestion of any type of non-edible plant may cause mild stomach distress if eaten in large amounts.
Do cranesbill geraniums need deadheading?
Deadheading spent flowers is tedious and offers few if any benefits. The entire plant can be sheared after flowering to promote new growth and blooms.
How do you keep cranesbill geraniums blooming?
For optimal flowering, plant in a site with full to partial sun and moderately rich soil. Provide regular water and prune plants back in mid-season for a new flush of blooms. Too much water or fertilizer may result in fewer flowers. Planting too deeply may prevent plants from flowering.
Should cranesbill geraniums be cut back?
In mid-summer, cranesbill geranium plants can be cut back to stimulate new foliage growth and flowers. Heather Blackmore of Here She Grows shares her tips on pruning hardy geraniums: “Don’t be afraid to cut it back hard. Whatever you do, you’re not going to kill it. What you’re telling the plant to do is you don’t want it to set seed, you want it to flower.”
Do cranesbill geraniums spread?
Some varieties of hardy geranium have a clumping habit, while others will spread. Give plants enough room to reach their full mature size.
Are cranesbill geraniums invasive?
Some varieties may self-sow but are not considered invasive. Seedlings can be transplanted into other areas of the garden.
GARDEN DESIGN IDEAS WITH CRANESBILL GERANIUMS
Hardy geranium is a versatile ornamental plant with many uses in the landscape. Here are some ideas:
For borders and landscapes: Use this versatile ornamental plant in a mixed border, cottage garden, rockery, woodland area, mass planting, as edging, or a ground cover.
For slopes and hillsides: : Many hardy geraniums have a dense creeping or spreading habit that is effective for erosion control along a slope.
For containers: Small to medium-sized hardy geraniums can be planted in pots. Allow enough room for the roots to grow.
- Plant hardy geranium at the front of a mixed border for long-lasting color and structure.
- Use in a rock garden in combination with columbine, phlox, sedum, and lavender.
- Bigroot geranium or other tough species can be used in challenging sites such as dry shade.
- Plant a small or medium-sized variety in a container by itself or with other plants with similar growing needs for long-lasting color from year to year.
- Plant in a cottage-style garden alongside other compatible plants such as lady’s mantle, peony, roses, and hydrangea. (See more cottage-garden plants.)
- Allow hardy geranium to naturalize in a woodland garden as a colorful low-maintenance solution.
- Use a smaller clumping variety to edge a pathway or garden bed.
- Mass as a groundcover in a garden bed or use as a lawn substitute.
Companion plants:
Choose companion plants that thrive in similar growing conditions of full to partial sun, amended soil and moderate moisture. Hardy geraniums are commonly used as an underplanting to rose bushes. Other companions include astilbe, aster, beautyberry, columbine, ferns, hosta, hydrangea, lady’s mantle, lavender, pansy, peony, pepperbush, phlox, sedum, salvia, sweet alyssum, and sweetspire.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Janet Loughrey is a veteran garden writer and photographer with over 25 years of experience, contributing to major publications like Garden Design, Better Homes and Gardens, and Sunset. A former Master Gardener, she brings hands-on expertise from gardening in a wide range of climates, from upstate New York to the Pacific Northwest.
