Geranium subcaulescens

RHS Plant Profile

grey cranesbill

RHS

Synonyms

Geranium cinereum var. subcaulescens
Geranium cinereum subsp. subcaulescens var. subcaulescens
Geranium cinereum subsp. subcaulescens

Alpine Rockery Herbaceous Perennial

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A compact perennial forming a clump of small, rounded grey-green leaves and black-eyed, intense magenta-purple flowers to 3cm wide in late spring and early summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Up to 10 cm

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: Up to 10 cm

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

Moisture: Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

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): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Geraniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: 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: SE Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, sharply drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by division in early spring, late summer or autumn; propagate by root cuttings in autumn or semi-ripe basal stem cuttings in late spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Rock garden
Wildlife gardens
Ground cover
Flower borders and beds
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, sawfly larvae, slugs and snails

Diseases

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