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Geranium sanguineum is often confused with:
Geranium 'Dilys' Flower detail
Geranium maculatum Flowers
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Verbena canadensis Verbena canadensis
Viola sororia Viola papilionacea
Geranium sanguineum has some common disease problems:
Southern Bacterial Wilt on Herbaceous Ornamental Plants

Geranium sanguineum

Phonetic Spelling
jer-AY-nee-um san-gwin-EE-um
Description

Bloody cranesbill geranium is an herbaceous perennial in the Geraniaceae family and is native to Europe and temperate Asia.  The genus name comes from the Greek word "géranos" and means beak, referring to the beaked fruits. The species name sanguineum is Latin and refers to the red color of the leaves in fall.

This plant is a mounding perennial with prostrate to ascending branched and hairy stems that grows 10-20 inches tall and 20-24 inches wide. The flowers are magenta pink with darker venation that bloom in late spring to early summer and may rebloom throughout summer. The delicate basal foliage is lobed and turns red after a frost. It is one of the most popular perennial geraniums for gardens and is widely available.

Bloody cranesbill prefers moist but well-drained soil in full sun but tolerates part shade and some drought once established. It is also tolerant of clay soil, heat, deer and rabbits. Use as a groundcover, in a border, a rock garden or a pollinator garden. Bees and butterflies will visit the blooms. Divide the plant as needed in spring or fall to keep it in its desired space. It may also self-seed if conditions are right.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems but there is some susceptibility to leaf spots and rust. Also sawflies, vine weevil and capsid bugs.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Sun and Shade Demonstration Garden, Buncombe County
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Album"
    White flowers
  • 'Elke'
    lilac flowers with white edging
  • 'New Hampshire Purple'
    Purple with a white eye
'Album", 'Elke', 'New Hampshire Purple'
Tags:
#purple#deciduous#full sun tolerant#pink flowers#nectar plant#specialized bees#summer flowers#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#spring interest#pollinator plant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#perennial#buncombe county sun and shade garden#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Album"
    White flowers
  • 'Elke'
    lilac flowers with white edging
  • 'New Hampshire Purple'
    Purple with a white eye
'Album", 'Elke', 'New Hampshire Purple'
Tags:
#purple#deciduous#full sun tolerant#pink flowers#nectar plant#specialized bees#summer flowers#groundcover#rock garden#border planting#spring interest#pollinator plant#butterfly friendly#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#perennial#buncombe county sun and shade garden#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Geranium
    Species:
    sanguineum
    Family:
    Geraniaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Stem Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe to Caucasus
    Wildlife Value:
    Nectar from flowers attract butterflies and bees.  Members of the genus Geranium support the following specialized bee: Andrena (Ptilandrena) distans.
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 10 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Schizocarp
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The long, slender beaked fruit
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Petals:
    4-5 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    Magenta 5-petaled, cup-shaped flowers with darker veins are up to 1.5 inches wide. Blooms May-June and may rebloom during the summer.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmatifid
    Leaf Margin:
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Small green 5-lobed leaves are basal with smaller more deeply cut leaves up the stem. Leaves have hairs
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Ascending to prostrate hairy stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Pool/Hardscape
    Small Space
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Butterfly Garden
    Cottage Garden
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Rabbits