Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants
Herbaceous Perennial

Geranium sanguineum 'Shooting Star'
  • RHS Plants for pollinators

A vigorous clump-forming perennial, with a low, spreading habit and deep green, narrowly lobed leaves that tint red in autumn. Magenta pink flowers with red veins are produced in late spring and early summer

Buy this plant
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Chalk
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Pink Green
Summer Pink Green
Autumn Green Red
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness
H7
Botanical details
Family
Geraniaceae
Native to GB / Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming, Trailing
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

Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Thrives in moderately fertile, well-drained soil in sun or partial shade, but will tolerate most soils and positions unless waterlogged

Propagation

Propagate by seed, by division or by basal softwood cuttings in spring. Plants may self-seed but seedlings may not be true to the parent

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Banks and slopes
  • Garden edging
  • Ground cover
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning

Remove flowered stems and old leaves to encourage the production of fresh leaves and flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil larvae, geranium sawfly larvae, capsid bug, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews and virus diseases, and to powdery mildews in dry conditions

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.