Geranium sanguineum
bloody Crane's-bill
Overview
Geranium sanguineum is a mounding, clump-forming perennial native to Europe and western Asia, grown widely for its long flowering and dense, spreading habit. The plant builds a rounded mound 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) tall and 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide from a branching rhizome. The deeply cut leaves are 1-3 inches (2.5-7.5 cm) wide, divided into five to seven narrow, further-lobed segments, dark green through the season and turning red in autumn. From late spring through summer the plant carries saucer-shaped flowers 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across, usually deep magenta-pink with darker veins, held singly above the foliage. The common name refers both to the red autumn foliage and to the beak-like seed capsule shared across the genus, which flings its seeds as it dries. The flowers draw bees and other pollinators over a long season. It grows in full sun to part shade and tolerates poor, dry soils once established, spreading steadily to form weed-suppressing cover without becoming invasive. Hard, wet winters and heavy shade reduce flowering and can cause the crown to rot.
Native Range
Native to Europe and into western Asia and the Caucasus, from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean. It grows in dry grassland, open woodland, scrub, coastal dunes, and limestone outcrops.Suggested Uses
Used as front-of-border edging, groundcover on banks and slopes, and underplanting among shrubs and roses. It suits rock gardens, gravel gardens, and cottage-style plantings, and spreads to cover ground between larger perennials.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers open from late May through August, with scattered blooms continuing into autumn. The five-petaled flowers are 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) wide, magenta-pink with darker veins, and sometimes white in named forms. The flowering season runs about twelve to fourteen weeks in cooler summers.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Dark green, red in autumnGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-10 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
Grows in full sun to part shade in average, well-drained soil, tolerating sand, chalk, and clay once established. It withstands heat, drought, and poor fertility, and tolerates more shade than many sun-loving geraniums. Plants are hardy in USDA zones 3-8 and need little attention beyond a yearly cleanup. Shearing the whole plant back after the first heavy flush encourages fresh foliage and a second round of bloom. Division every three to four years in spring or autumn keeps clumps vigorous. Wet, poorly drained soil in winter is the main cause of failure.Pruning
Shear the entire plant to near ground level after the main flush of bloom to renew the foliage and prompt repeat flowering. Remove tired or frost-damaged leaves in late winter before new growth begins. No staking is required given the low, self-supporting habit.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons