Cut-leaved cranesbill
Geranium dissectum · Geraniaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant cut-leaved cranesbill: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April to September
- Flower color
- Rose-lilac to purple
- Adult size
- 20 to 40 cm tall
- Growth
- Fast
- Hardiness
- Hardy, down to -15 °C
- Origin
- Mediterranean Europe and southwestern Asia
- Soil type
- Light, well-drained, low-fertility soil
Care
Watering
Cranesbill geranium appreciates moist but never waterlogged soil. Water moderately during the growing season and reduce watering in winter. During prolonged dry spells, regular watering encourages abundant flowering.
Light exposure
Place this plant in full sun or partial shade. At least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily stimulate flowering. It tolerates slightly shaded positions but will flower less abundantly.
Soil preparation
Prepare light, well-drained substrate enriched with sand or gravel if the soil is too compact. This plant fears stagnant excess moisture. Poor soil is not a problem and may even limit excessive foliage development.
Pruning and deadheading
Regularly remove dead flowers and leaves to encourage continued flowering. Light pruning in spring after the last frosts helps densify the plant's shape. In autumn, prune moderately before the harshest cold arrives.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer or one slightly rich in potassium once or twice monthly during flowering. On naturally fertile soil, fertilizing is not essential and may promote foliage at the expense of flowers.
Diseases and pests
Cranesbill geranium is generally robust. Watch for powdery mildew in warm, humid conditions; improve air circulation and reduce leaf moisture. Slugs and snails can damage young shoots early in the season.
Did you know?
Cranesbill geranium was once used in traditional herbalism for its supposedly astringent properties. Its scientific name Geranium comes from the Greek "geranos" (crane), because its elongated, pointed fruits resemble this bird's beak — a characteristic shared across the entire Geraniaceae family.
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.