Geranium cantabrigiense
Geranium cantabrigiense · Geraniaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant geranium cantabrigiense: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Scientific name
- Geranium cantabrigiense
- Family
- Geraniaceae
- Plant type
- Herbaceous perennial
- Foliage
- Deciduous to semi-evergreen
- Flowering
- May to June
- Mature height
- 30 cm
- Hardiness
- Excellent (down to -15°C)
- Origin
- Hybrid cultivar (Geranium dalmaticum × Geranium macrorrizum)
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability medium.
Expert tips
The key tip
Geranium cantabrigiense displays its persistent foliage best in partial sun. Too much shade = aerial elongation.
The common mistake
Planting it in shade to protect it and watching it get leggy: it actually prefers 3-4 hours of sun minimum to stay compact.
The pro's trick
Plant it in a semi-shaded border where it catches morning sun.
Care
Exposure
Cambridge Geranium appreciates partial shade or dappled sunlight, where it expresses its blooms at their best. It tolerates semi-shaded areas well at the base of shrubs. In very warm regions, prefer a north-west facing position to avoid excessive summer heat.
Watering
Keep the soil lightly moist during the growing season (May to September), but avoid waterlogging. Once established, this hybrid is very drought-tolerant. Reduce watering in autumn and limit it in winter, unless the soil remains very dry.
Soil
Well-drained soil is essential to prevent rot. Enrich the soil with compost or potting soil at planting. This geranium appreciates slightly alkaline soils but adapts to most garden soils, provided they're not waterlogged.
Pruning and tidying
Remove faded flowers regularly to extend flowering. Spring cleanup (cutting back to 15 cm above ground) rejuvenates the clump and encourages compact growth. Remove any dead or diseased foliage as needed.
Fertilising
Light balanced fertiliser in spring (April-May) is plenty. Avoid excess nitrogen, which promotes foliage at the expense of flowers. Light feeding every two years is generally sufficient to maintain vigour.
Health and pests
This geranium is very hardy and rarely troubled by disease. Watch for root rot in stagnant moisture: improve drainage if needed. Pests (spider mites, whiteflies) are rare but may appear in hot, dry conditions.
Did you know?
Cambridge Geranium is a hybrid cultivar created at Cambridge University's Botanic Garden in England, resulting from crossing Geranium dalmaticum and Geranium macrorrizum. Unlike many hybrid geraniums which are sterile, this one retains some reproductive capacity. Its finely cut foliage releases a pleasant, slightly spicy scent when brushed, making it an excellent choice for path borders and accessible rock gardens.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Meadow geraniumGeranium pratense
- Bloody Crane's-billGeranium sanguineum
- Rock crane's-billGeranium macrorrhizum
- French crane's-billGeranium endressii
- Purple-vein geraniumGeranium wallichianum
- Himalayan crane's-billGeranium himalayense
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.