Caucasian cranesbill – info, planting, care and tips

Caucasian cranesbill (Geranium renardii)
Caucasian cranesbill (Geranium renardii)

The Caucasian cranesbill is especially popular because of its decorative, gray-green leaves, which are reminiscent of sage leaves in color, are soft and velvety to the touch and remain green for most of the winter. The white or pale purple flowers create a nice contrast.

Profile of Caucasian cranesbill:

Scientific name: Geranium renardii

Plant family: cranesbill family (Geraniaceae)

Other names: –

Planting time: spring

Flowering period: June to July

Location: sunny to partially shaded

Soil quality: stony to sandy, moderately nutritious, low in humus

These information are for temperate climate!

Use in: flower beds, ground cover, embankments, borders, group planting, underplanting, flower garden, courtyard, rose garden, rock garden, forest garden

Winter hardiness: hardy, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 6 (-20 °C / -5 °F)

Bee and insect friendly: Yes

Plant characteristics and classification of Caucasian cranesbill

Plant order, origin and occurrence

Caucasian cranesbill (Geranium renardii) belongs to the cranesbill family (Geraniaceae). It is native to the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia. The Latin specific epithet renardii honors the Russian naturalist Charles Claude Renard (1809-1886).

Characteristics of Caucasian cranesbill

Plant

The plant forms carpets, is creeping and is a good ground cover. It grows up to 30 centimeters (12 in) high.

Leaves

The velvety-soft leaves are almost round and cut in 5 to 7 corners about halfway. In dry and warm years they turn yellowish in autumn.

Blossoms

The perennial forms white, delicate cup-shaped flowers with purple-colored veins that are a bit reminiscent of hollyhocks and bloom from May to June.

Flower of Caucasian cranesbill
Flower of Caucasian cranesbill

Caucasian cranesbill – cultivation and care

Location

A moderately dry garden soil in full sun or on the edge of the wood is ideal.

Soil

It grows best in poor, sandy, humus-poor soils.

Planting

Plant this ground cover at a distance of 30 centimeters (12 in), 10 plants per square meter are sufficient.

Care

Caucasian cranesbill is easy to care for. It does not need lots of water, only on long summer dryness it should be watered once in a while. It does not need any fertilizer.

Propagation

The flower is propagated by division or cuttings in spring.

Wintering

The plant is hardy down to -20 °C / -5 °F.

Use in the garden

Caucasian cranesbill is great to plant in groups. This creates an overall impression that is reminiscent of a carpet of flowers. The plant is also convincing in its individual position. It even attracts attention in pots or boxes and in this way beautifies balconies and terraces. It arranges itself well with other plants and harmonizes with grasses or sage. Planted between other flowering plants with striking colors, it ensures the necessary harmony of the overall picture.

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