Geranium pyrenaicum
hedgerow Crane's-bill
Europe, the Mediterranean, and southwestern Asia
Overview
Geranium pyrenaicum is a short-lived, clump-forming perennial often grown or behaving as a biennial, 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide, with softly hairy, branching stems. The rounded leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-8 cm) across, divided about halfway into five to nine lobes, forming a basal clump with smaller leaves up the stems. From late spring through summer it carries many small flowers about 0.5-0.7 inch (12-18 mm) across, in shades of pink to purple, each with five deeply notched petals. The flowers are followed by the beaked seed capsules typical of cranesbills, which fling their seeds outward as they dry. It grows in hedge banks, meadows, lawns, roadsides, and waste ground, mainly on fertile, well-drained soils. Native to Europe, the Mediterranean, and southwestern Asia, it has naturalized in Britain and North America and self-sows freely as a minor weed. Its long flowering season and ready seeding keep it present in informal plantings.
Native Range
Geranium pyrenaicum is native to Europe, the Mediterranean region, and southwestern Asia. It has naturalized in Britain, North America, and other temperate areas along hedgerows, roadsides, and grassy places.Suggested Uses
Used in cottage gardens, wildflower and meadow plantings, and informal borders, spaced 12-15 inches (30-38 cm) apart. The long bloom draws bees and hoverflies through the season. Its self-seeding suits relaxed plantings rather than formal beds, and it also grows in containers.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 1'6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Flowering extends over a long season from late spring through summer and into early autumn, with new flowers opening continuously. Each small flower lasts a few days, replaced by beaked seed capsules. The capsules dry and split to scatter seed, fueling steady self-sowing.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
pink to purpleFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in full sun to part shade in moist but free-draining, fertile soil. It tolerates a range of soils and conditions and needs little attention once growing. Hardy in USDA zones 5-9, it overwinters as a low rosette and resumes growth in spring. As a short-lived perennial it relies on self-seeding to persist, so it often moves around a planting over the years. Removing spent flowers before seed sets limits its spread where that is unwanted. No feeding is needed on reasonable soils.Pruning
The plant can be sheared back after the main flush of flowering to tidy it and encourage a second flush. Spent stems can be cut to the base in late autumn or winter. Removing seed heads reduces self-sowing.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons
