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Herbaceous Perennial

Geranium robustum

robust cranesbill

A low-growing, clump to mat-forming, herbaceous perennial, with deeply incised grey-green, lobed foliage, producing a fern-like effect, on lax stems to 45cm high. Pale lavender-pink flowers with darker veins are produced from late spring into summer

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing or East–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, Matforming
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: Temp S Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moderately fertile soil apart from waterlogged soils. Full sun or partial shade is best for good growth and flowering

Propagation

Propagate by division or by seed in spring, or take basal cuttings in early to mid spring and root with bottom heat.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Cut back after flowering to encourage the production of fresh leaves and flowers. Remove old dead foliage in spring before growth commences

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews and a virus

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