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Herbaceous Perennial

Geranium erianthum

woolly cranesbill

A clump-forming herbaceous perennial, 45-60cm high, with 7 to 9-lobed pale green leaves, 5-20cm across, colouring well in autumn, and saucer-shaped light to deep violet-blue flowers, 2.5-4cm across, with darker veins, from late spring to midsummer, and often again in summer or early autumn

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or North–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: Geranium can be annuals, biennials and perennials, herbaceous or evergreen, with rounded, usually palmately lobed or divided leaves, and lax inflorescences of rounded, 5-petalled flowers
Name status: Correct
Plant range: West N America, N Asia

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers outdoors as soon as seed is ripe or in spring, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required, but cutting back flowered stems and old leaves may encourage the growth of fresh leaves and flowers

Pests

Generally pest-free, but may be susceptible to capsid bug, geranium sawfly, vine weevil, slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may be affected by a rust, a downy mildew, leafy gall, and virus diseases; may also be affected by powdery mildews in dry conditions

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