Geranium Species, Bloody Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium

Geraniumsanguineum

Family
Geraniaceae (jer-ay-nee-AY-see-ee)
Genus
Geranium (jer-AY-nee-um)
Species
sanguineum (san-GWIN-ee-um)
Synonym
Geranium lancastriense
Geranium prostratum
Geranium sanguineiforme
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage
Herbaceous
Height
12-18 in. (30-45 cm)
Spacing
18-24 in. (45-60 cm)
Hardiness
USDA Zone 3a: to -39.9 °C (-40 °F)
USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F)
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Danger
N/A
Bloom Color
Rose/Mauve
Bloom Time
Late Spring/Early Summer
Mid Summer
Late Summer/Early Fall
Other Details
Category
Alpines and Rock Gardens
Groundcovers
Perennials
Water Requirements
Drought-tolerant; suitable for xeriscaping
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Foliage Color
Where to Grow
Bloom Characteristics
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Flowers are fragrant
Bloom Size
Other details
Soil pH requirements
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)
Patent Information
Non-patented
Propagation Methods
By dividing rhizomes, tubers, corms or bulbs (including offsets)
From herbaceous stem cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
From seed; sow indoors before last frost
Self-sows freely; deadhead if you do not want volunteer seedlings next season
Seed Collecting
Bag seedheads to capture ripening seed
Allow seedheads to dry on plants; remove and collect seeds
Regional

This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:

Hanceville, Alabama

Calistoga, California

Simi Valley, California

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Littleton, Colorado

Parker, Colorado

Voluntown, Connecticut

Barnesville, Georgia

Joliet, Illinois

Mount Prospect, Illinois

Mt Zion, Illinois

Carmel, Indiana

Inwood, Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa

Smiths Grove, Kentucky

South Berwick, Maine

Amesbury, Massachusetts

Billerica, Massachusetts

Wayland, Massachusetts

Woburn, Massachusetts

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Coopersville, Michigan

Garden City, Michigan

Royal Oak, Michigan

Buffalo, Minnesota

Hopkins, Minnesota

Rosemount, Minnesota

Columbia, Missouri

Morristown, New Jersey

Santa Fe, New Mexico

Ballston Lake, New York

Cicero, New York

Endicott, New York

Himrod, New York

Webster, New York

West Islip, New York

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Bucyrus, Ohio

Cincinnati, Ohio

Findlay, Ohio

Hamilton, Ohio

Powell, Ohio

Hulbert, Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma(2 reports)

Bend, Oregon

Warwick, Rhode Island

Custer, South Dakota

Collierville, Tennessee

Austin, Texas

Coppell, Texas

Ogden, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

West Dummerston, Vermont

Alexandria, Virginia

Bellevue, Washington(2 reports)

Kalama, Washington

Olympia, Washington

Spokane, Washington

Vancouver, Washington

Saint Albans, West Virginia

Ellsworth, Wisconsin

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

Watertown, Wisconsin

show all

Featured Videos

Gardener's Notes:

9
positives
1
neutral
0
negative
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J
Collierville, TN | May 2022 | positive

It is blooming now in my zone 7b garden Love the abundant striking blooms and the ferny foliage.

R
Warwick, RI (Zone 6b) | September 2015 | positive

Mine were purchased at a nearby farm about 7 years ago. If you like a ground cover that keeps on giving from Spring until summer w pink b...Read More

R
Custer, SD | July 2015 | positive

Yes, it freely volunteers and I love it. It does have a tendency to flop later in the season so I make a roll of chicken wire, 8-12" dia...Read More

S
S
Simi Valley, CA (Zone 9a) | May 2011 | positive

This is the easiest Hardy Geranium to grow here in SoCal.

Likes a bit of afternoon shade.
But tolerates all types o...Read More

G
Everett, WA (Zone 8b) | September 2009 | positive

One of my favorite plants, in zone 7-8, it is very self-sufficient. I only water during the worst of summer heat. Blooms early summer, h...Read More

K
Watertown, WI (Zone 5a) | May 2008 | positive

Cranesbill is always welcome in my garden. I've had them in various gardens and all have seemed to survive even the toughest conditions. ...Read More

K
K
Oostburg, WI (Zone 5b) | May 2004 | positive

Nice clump, can get a little scraggley in late summer so it gets trimmed then.

P
Rosemount, MN (Zone 4a) | July 2003 | positive

We enjoy this perennial alot as the folliage is springy and is good ground cover. It repeated blooms throughout the growing season,(more...Read More

B
Albuquerque, NM (Zone 7a) | December 2002 | positive

I have a couple of blooms on this one in December--much to my surprise--in Zone 7. I've had the plants (grown from seed) for three or fo...Read More

T
T
Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) | March 2001 | neutral

Profusely blooming during early to mid-summer. Flowers are cup-shaped, red/purple with dark veins - measuring 1-2 inches across. The l...Read More

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