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Herbaceous PerennialAlpine Rockery

Erodium chrysanthum

yellow heron's bill

A compact perennial to 20cm high, forming a dense mound of finely divided, silvery green leaves. Flowers are pale creamy yellow, or rarely pale pink, and produced in early summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Geraniaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Erodium can be annuals, perennials or subshrubs, some evergreen, with lobed or pinnately divided leaves and bowl-shaped, 5-petalled flowers in summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Central & S Greece

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sunny spot in gritty, well-drained soil, and protect from excess winter wet. Ideal for a rockery or alpine house

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, or by basal softwood cuttings in late spring and early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Benefits from regular deadheading

Pests

Generally pest-free, may be susceptible to vine weevil if grown in containers

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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