Geranium erianthum

RHS Plant Profile
woolly cranesbill

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Geranium erianthum?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
woolly cranesbill RHS
Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A clump-forming herbaceous perennial, 45-60cm high, with 7 to 9-lobed pale green leaves, 5-20cm across, colouring well in autumn, and saucer-shaped light to deep violet-blue flowers, 2.5-4cm across, with darker veins, from late spring to midsummer, and often again in summer or early autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or North–facing or West–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)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Geraniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
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
West N America, N Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers outdoors as soon as seed is ripe or in spring, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required, but cutting back flowered stems and old leaves may encourage the growth of fresh leaves and flowers

Pests

Generally pest-free, but may be susceptible to capsid bug, geranium sawfly, vine weevil, slugs and snails

Diseases

Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to a rust, downy mildews, leafy gall, and virus diseases; may also be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions