Full Sun
Easy care
Moderate watering
Frost Hardy
6a
USDA zone
-23°C
Minimum temperature
Expected size
Height | Spread | |
---|---|---|
1m | Max | 1m |
50cm | Min | 50cm |
Flowering
spring
summer
autumn
winter


More images of Meadow Cranesbill
Meadow Cranesbill Overview
Geranium pratense is an upright, clump-forming perennial that is native to Northern European countries, across to the Himalayas. It has hairy stems and deeply-lobed foliage. The blue-purple-violet - sometimes white - flowers have 5 petals and are around 4cm across. They appear in early to mid-summer. In the wild, Geranium pratense - also known as Meadow Cranesbill and Meadow Geranium - can be seen growing in meadows and verges, and it is the parent of many garden varieties of hardy Geraniums. Ideally, it likes moist, well-drained soil and a sunny position, but shade is tolerated well. It is a hardy, low-maintenance plant and is part of the RHS “Plants for Pollinators” initiative that showcases plants which support pollinator populations by providing ample amounts of nectar and/or pollen. A great choice for encouraging wildlife into your garden! Very much a 'cottage garden plant' it is also suitable for underplanting shrubs and roses, and it is used for ground cover in mixed borders and other settings. Geranium pratense freely self-seeds, producing varying offspring, and there are many different cultivated varieties available. (Geranium comes from the Greek noun 'geranos' meaning 'crane', which is a reference to the beak-like seed capsule.)
Common problems with Meadow Cranesbill
How to propagate Meadow Cranesbill
Division
Spring or Autumn.
Cuttings
Basal cuttings in spring. Bottom heat helps rooting.
Seed
Can be grown from seed in spring in pots.
Special features of Meadow Cranesbill
Attracts bees
Attracts butterflies
Attracts useful insects
Ground cover
Attractive flowers
Other uses of Meadow Cranesbill
Ornamental
Pollinator Friendly Plants for Summer
Native summer flowering plants that provide the best habitat, shelter and food for pollinators.
Explore all