Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00000659
11/12/99

Geranium spp.--Crane's-bill


Hardiness Zones: 3 to 8
Height: 18 in Spread: 18 in
Type: herbaceous perennial
Flowers: Blue, pink, red, white

Comments: Geraniums are hardy perennials and should not be
confused with annual geraniums which are in the genus
pelargonium. The perennial geraniums grow 4 inches to 2
and a half feet tall depending on the species grown. The
leaves are cut and can be almost fern-like. The smaller
species may be used in the rock garden. Taller types are
not invasive like some other perennials. The flowers are
usually 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Flowering is best when
the plants are grown in full sun although they tolerate
some shade. Some of the geraniums have colorful red fall
foliage color.

Propagation: Most are easily propagated by division.

Cultivars: For convenience, the cultivar list contains
various hybrids and species of geranium.
x 'Ann Folkard' - A hybrid, 15 inches tall with magenta
flowers.
'Brookside' - Blue flowers.
'Cambridge' - Rose-colored flowers.
x cantabrigiense 'Biokova' - White flowers tinged with
pink, the plant 18 inches tall.
x cantabrigiense 'Karmina' - Plants 12 inches tall
produce bright pink flowers, red fall foliage color.
cinereum 'Ballerina' - The 2-inch, pink flowers have a
dark center and purple veining on the leaves. The
plants are about 6 inches tall.
cinereum var. subcaulescens - Magenta flowers have dark
centers.
dalmaticum - A low, 6-inch tall plant with light pink
flowers.
endressii 'Wargrave Pink' - Pink flowers on plants 1
foot tall.
himalayense (grandiflorum) 'Birch's Double' ('Plenum')
- Double, bluish-purple flowers on plants 15 inches
tall. The foliage turns red in the fall.
himalayense (grandiflorum) 'Gravetye' ('Alpinum') -
Deep blue flowers on a 16-inch plant.
ibericum - Violet-blue flowers have darker veins.
x 'Janette' - Magenta flowers, plants 10 inches tall.
x 'John Elsley' - Plants only 2 inches tall produce
large carmine flowers, suitable ground cover plant.
x 'Johnson's Blue' - Plants 18 inches tall produce
vivid blue flowers for a long time.
macrorrhizum 'Bevan's Variety' - Dark, magenta flowers.
macrorrhizum 'Ingwersen's Variety' - Bright pink flower
on plants 18 inches tall. Foliage turns color in the
fall.
macrorrhizum 'Spessart' - A one-foot tall plant
produces pink flowers.
maculatum - Pink flowers.
magnificum - Bluish flowers are produced on plants with a
height and spread of about 2 feet.
x oxonianum 'Claridge Druce' - Pink flowers on 18-inch
plants.
x oxonianum 'Rose Clair' - The pink flowers have darker
veins. The flowers fade as they age.
x 'Patricia' - Magenta flowers have a black star in the
center. Plants to 3 feet tall.
x 'Phillippe Vapelle' - A mounded plant reaching a height
of 15 inches. The flowers are purplish-blue.
pratense 'Mrs. Kendall Clark' - Plants 3 feet tall
produce lavender blue flowers.
psilostemon - Plants 2 feet tall produce magenta
flowers that have black centers and black veins.
psilostemon 'Patricia' - Magenta flowers have dark
centers (Vis. 5).
renardii - White flowers have purple veins. Plant 2 feet
tall.
'Rosemoor' - Purplish-blue flowers, plants 2 feet tall
and wide.
sanguineum - Mounding plants about a foot tall produce
reddish purple blooms (Vis. 1).
sanguineum 'Album' - White flowers otherwise similar to
species.
sanguineum 'Alpenglow' - Plants about a foot tall
produces red flowers.
sanguineum 'Ankum's Pride' - Intense pink flowers.
sanguineum 'Max Frei' - Reddish-purple flowers.
sanguineum 'New Hampshire Purple' - Violet-blue (Vis. 3)
flowers are produced in abundance on plants (Vis. 4) 12
inches tall.
sanguineum prostratum - A dwarf that may be 15 inches
tall. The flowers are pink with red veins.
sanguineum var. striatum (var. lancastriense) - A
creeping plant only 8 inches tall. The flowers are
pink with red veins (Vis. 2).
'Sirak' - Magenta flowers.
x 'Spinners' - Cup-shaped, blue flowers on plants 3 feet
tall.
wlassovianum - Purple flowers have darker veins. The
foliage turns red in the fall.

References for Cultivars: Walters Gardens 1999, Ray
Wiegand's Nursery 1999, Weston Nurseries 1999, Lake County
Nursery 1999, White Flower Farm 1999, Bailey Nurseries 1999,
Wayside Gardens 1999, Monrovia Nursery Company 1997,
Sheridan Nurseries 1999, Berryhill Nurseries 1999, Scarff's
Nursery 1999, Midwest Groundcover 1999, Willoway Nurseries
1999.


Go To Top of File        Michigan State University Extension Home Page        Main Page for this Data Base        MNLA Web Site
This information is for educational purposes only. References to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned. This information becomes public property upon publication and may be printed verbatim with credit to MSU Extension. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a commercial product or company. This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00. Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99. For more information about this data base or its contents please contact heatley@msue.msu.edu . Please read our disclaimer for important information about using our site.