The most beautiful cranesbill species at a glance

The most beautiful cranesbill species at a glance

Cambridge cranesbill (Geranium cantabrigiense)

This compact perennial, evergreen in mild winters, has light green leaves that turn reddish in autumn. From May to July, dense inflorescences of numerous flat, mostly purple-pink or white flowers appear above the foliage. The plant grows to about 25 centimeters high and twice as wide. The perennial is particularly suitable as a ground cover between trees, but also in rock gardens, on roadsides and stairs as well as in pots.

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Gray cranesbill (Geranium cinereum)

The plant, which is up to 15 centimeters high and about twice as wide, forms loose clumps of small rosettes. Particularly noticeable is the distinctive gray-green colored leaves, from which between June and September short-stalked inflorescences with several white or pale pink flowers appear. The perennial is ideal for rock gardens and the edging of gravel beds, but also for balcony boxes (€ 106.25 on Amazon *) and buckets.

Clarke's cranesbill (Geranium clarkei)

This is a spreading, rhizome-forming perennial that spreads practically indefinitely. It becomes about 50 centimeters high and has lobed leaves up to 15 centimeters long. From June to August, loose inflorescences appear with four to five centimeters wide, purple-violet or white flowers. The species is very suitable as a ground cover between trees and bushes and for borders.

Himalayan cranesbill (Geranium himalayense)

The Himalayan cranesbill, which can reach a height of up to 40 centimeters, is a vigorous ground cover for sunny borders, which is particularly good with roses. The species has extraordinarily large flowers for cranesbills, which are usually purple-blue or pink-red in color. Flowering time is between June and July.

Magnificent cranesbill (Geranium magnificum)

The lush purple-blue blooming magnificent cork's bill becomes about 60 centimeters high and just as wide. Please note that this species only blooms once and for a relatively short time, but is then a real eye-catcher due to the very dense inflorescences with its numerous, very large flowers. The perennial goes particularly well with peonies.

Oxford cranesbill (Geranium oxonianum)

This cranesbill is ideal for problematic locations under and between groups of trees and is very shade-friendly. However, you should not plant it in borders because it dominates other plants too much. The long shoots can even overgrow small shrubs. The plant grows to 80 centimeters high and 60 centimeters wide, the mostly pink flowers appear between June and August in loose inflorescences.

Blood-red cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum)

This delicate species, only around 30 centimeters high - some varieties are even significantly slower - also thrives excellently in pots and tubs and is a wonderful companion to roses. Due to the distinctive foliage, which turns red in autumn, the decorative effect is enormous even after the flowering period.

Particularly recommended cranesbill varieties

In the following table you will find a clear listing of some of the most beautiful cranesbill varieties. Due to the large number of different variants, the table is of course not complete.

varietyArtblossom
BiokovoGeranium cantabrigiensesoft pink
KarminaGeranium cantabrigiensecarmine
Saint OlaGeranium cantabrigienseWhite
ballerinaGeranium cinereumpurple pink
Kashmir BlueGeranium clarkeipale blue
Kashmir pinkGeranium clarkeipink
Kashmir WhiteGeranium clarkeiwhite with gray-pink veins
GravetyeGeranium himalayenselavender blue with pink center
plenumGeranium himalayenseviolet blue
VitalGeranium ibericumblue-violet
CzakorGeranium macrorrhizummagenta
SpessartGeranium macrorrhizumwhite with a brown center
RosemoorGeranium magnificumpurple violet
Rose lightGeranium oxonianumbright magenta pink
Apple blossomGeranium sanguineumsoft pink

Tips

One of the most popular hybrid varieties is the very flowering cranesbill hybrid “Rozanne” with its violet-blue flowers.