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Herbaceous Perennial

Geranium malviflorum

mallow-flowered cranesbill

A tuberous-rooted perennial to 30cm tall, with rounded leaves deeply divided into 7 lobes, appearing in autumn and dying away in summer; mallow-like light or deep purple flowers with dark-veined petals, open in spring

Synonyms

Geranium atlanticum Hook. f.

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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

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but 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 the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
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: S Spain & N Africa

How to grow

Cultivation

Best in full sun and with good drainage, but tolerates nutrient-poor soils and can be used in much the same way as spring bulbs, using annuals or neighbouring plants to occupy the space in summer

Propagation

Divide the tubers shortly after the foliage has been lost, but before autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Rock garden
City and courtyard gardens
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Dies away back to ground level in summer

Pests

Generally robust and trouble-free, but can occasionally suffer from slugs, snails, aphids, vine weevil and geranium saw fly

Diseases

Problem-free generally, but rust and a virus may occasionally occur

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