About
Geranium renardii, Renard's cranesbill, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial to 30 cm with attractive, grey-green, lobed, finely wrinkled basal leaves. White or pale-mauve flowers 3 cm wide with prominent violet veins appear in summer. The textured, silvery foliage is ornamental in its own right, making this a superb front-of-border cranesbill.
About the genus
Geranium, the cranesbills, are annuals, biennials and herbaceous or evergreen perennials with rounded, usually palmately lobed or divided leaves and loose clusters of rounded, five-petalled flowers in white, pink, purple or blue. Among the most versatile and garden-worthy of all perennial genera.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing, North-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
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, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal
Native toCaucasus
Care notes
CultivationBest in poor soil but any soil apart from waterlogged soils will do. Full sun or partial shade is best but shade is tolerated
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 susceptble to vine weevil, capsid bug and sawflies
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to downy mildews and powdery mildews