About

Red Admiral' is a compact herbaceous perennial, to about 60cm, forming a mound of deeply cut, mid-green foliage that turns red in autumn. The flowers are a bright red-purple with fine black veins and a black centre, produced all 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, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, North-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH7

Plant details

Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

CultivationGrow in any moderately fertile soil apart from waterlogged, in full sun or partial shade
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, sawflies, slugs and snails
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews and a virus