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Herbaceous PerennialAlpine Rockery

Erodium absinthoides

A perennial to 20cm high in flower, with a slightly sprawling habit and finely divided, silvery green fern-like leaves. Flowers are white to pale lilac pink, with slightly darker veins, and produced in late spring and early summer

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring White Pink Purple Green Grey Silver
Summer White Pink Purple Green Grey Silver
Autumn Green Grey Silver
Winter Green Grey Silver
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H5
Botanical details
Family
Geraniaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Semi evergreen
Habit
Spreading branched
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
SE Europe, SW Asia

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

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Gravel garden
  • Rock garden
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

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

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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