About

This small herbaceous perennial of spreading habit, to 20cm in height and 30cm spread, with rich green leaves with a hint of bronze, roundly lobed and turn a deep cherry red with cold autumn weather. Pink flowers are borne abundantly through the summer.

About the 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

Growing conditions

SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH5

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Rock garden

Care notes

CultivationGrow in any, moderately fertile soil apart from waterlogged soils. Full sun is best for retaining leaf colour
PruningRemove flowered stems and old leaves to encourage the production of fresh leaves and flowers
PropagationPropagate by division in spring or propagate by basal cuttings in early to mid spring and root with bottom heat
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to vine weevil, capsid bug, geranium sawfly, slugs and snails
Disease resistanceMaybe susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews and a virus