Geranium sinense
Chinese cranesbill
A low, spreading perennial, to 60cm tall, with deeply-veined leaves, to 10cm or more across, glossy, bright green above, paler below. Small, nodding flowers are held in loose clusters, the rounded, sharply-reflexed, petals are dark maroon-black, rose-pink at the base and are borne in mid to late summer
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Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink Purple | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Pink Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full shade
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H6Botanical details
- Family
- Geraniaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- 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
Correct
- Plant range
- Yunnan, Sichuan provinces, China
How to grow
Cultivation
Grows best in part or full shade in moderately fertile, well-drained soil, but most soils (unless waterlogged) are tolerated. Especially good in damp shade
Propagation
Propagate by division in spring or basal cuttings in early or mid-spring and root with bottom heat. Propagate by seed in containers outdoors as soon as ripe or in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Coastal
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Ground cover
- Banks and slopes
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
Cut flowered stems and old leaves to the base to encourage new foliage and flowers
Pests
May be damaged by capsid bug, vine weevil larvae, sawfly larvae, slugs and snails
Diseases
May be susceptible to a rust, downy mildews, leafy gall, a virus and powdery mildews
Get involved
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