About
A herbaceous perennial that behaves like a bulb and is dormant for the summer. The dark, shiny green leaves appear in the autumn, providing green, ground cover over winter. Large, veined, lilac-blue flowers, that are held high above the foliage, appear in April and flower until May.
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, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectEast-facing, South-facing, West-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, Wildlife gardens
Native toSyria, Lebanon, Turkey
Care notes
CultivationGrow in any, moderately fertile soil apart from waterlogged soils. Full sun or partial shade is best
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