How to Grow Hardy Geraniums

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How to Grow Hardy Geraniums also known as Cranesbill Geraniums or Perennial Geraniums. They are a tough and easy to grow perennial that is worthy of a space in your garden.

How to grow hardy geraniums.  Flowering perennial geraniums perform differently in various climates but no matter what it is worth a spot in your garden.

Many perennial geraniums have been crossed to create numerous hybrids. Some are cranesbill geraniums aka Geranium macrorrhizum, bloody geranium aka Geranium sanguineum, Geranium phaeum (black widow) and wild geranium aka Geranium maculatum. I think you get the picture of just how many there are.

Note: Wild Geraniums are native to much of Eastern North America and found in woodlands. You can still find it at specialty nurseries. I often encourage the use of natives because of their benefit to pollinators and beneficial insects.

Perennial Geraniums are Super Easy to Grow

I feel almost like a fraud trying to tell you how to grow these flowers.  They are so easy they just about take care of themselves.  

These hardy perennials are the true geraniums.  What is commonly passed off in garden centers as Geraniums are actually Pelargoniums aka Zonal Geraniums.   They are related so I guess it is okay to call them both Geraniums.

What Makes these Hardy Geraniums Perennial

Like many other perennials, hardy geraniums die back in the winter to the ground, then re-emerge as the weather warms in Spring. They will also do well with dividing about every 3 years.

Make sure and do a bit of research on the hardy geranium before you bring it home.  Some can be super vigorous growers that become a bully and reseed readily, coming up in areas you don’t want them to.  

Rozanne perennial geranium,also called hardy geranium or cranesbill, in garden with daisies.
Rozanne Geranium

How to grow hardy perennial geraniums

  1. Plant hardy geraniums into the garden with the crown level with the soil. Burying deeper can lead to crown rot.
  2. Hardy Cranesbill geraniums have a mounding habit though some also can sprawl and are hardy in Zones 3-9 depending on variety.
  3. Different varieties grow to different heights so check the details on each but typically they grow between 2 to 3 feet tall. Keep this in mind when placing in the garden.
  4. To rein in the ones that get scraggly,  cut them back after first bloom to within a couple inches of the ground and they will fill back in and many will re-bloom.
  5. Like most plants they like well draining soil that is moderately rich.  (compost, compost, compost, click here to see how I enrich my soil)
  6. Most prefer full sun to part shade.
  7. Mildew can be a problem in humid climates but just shear them off and let fresh foliage fill in.
  8. Slugs like to snack on the young sprouts, keep an eye out for them.

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cranesbill geranium, hardy geranium or perennial geranium rozanne

Elke Cranesbill

Elke Hardy Cranesbill Geranium close up, Flower Patch Farmhouse

Elke Cranesbill Geranium grows 10 to 12 inches in height and spread 12 to 18 inches.  The bright pink flowers are held upright above finely lobed foliage for a spectacular display from Spring until Fall.  

Elke grows in full sun to part shade and prefers well-draining soil.  Deer-resistant and butterflies love this one. 

Use as a ground cover, in a rock garden, underplanting roses, or as an edging plant. 

Dragon Heart
Dragons Heart Cranesbill Geranium, How to Grow Hardy Geraniums, FlowerPatchFarmhouse.com (9 of 12)

Dragon Heart grows to 24 inches high and spreads about 18 inches. It grows more loosely than Elke but is beautiful.  It throws out a few stems that are longer but is still very well behaved.  

Cut back spent blooms or shear back after first bloom for more. This one has not spread at all in my garden and stays put, so if you are looking for a very tame grower this may be your pick. .

Tiny Monster Geranium Perrenial

Tiny monster perennial hardy geranium

Tiny Monster is one of the longest blooming of the group. 

It also can grow quite rampant and it tends to swamp my rose.  In other climates, it grows lower to the ground but it loves it in my garden and lives up to its name…Monster!

I enjoy its long bloom time and I just cut it to the ground whenever it becomes a bit leggy and bullies my roses.

It takes this haircut well and fills back in nicely with fresh foliage and more blooms. 

Rozanne Cranesbill Geranium

Rozanne hardy cranesbill geranium, how to grow them, Flower Patch Farmhouse

Rozanne was the 2008 Perennial of the year and it is not only well behaved but blooms and blooms.  

Be aware that Rozanne is marketed by many as a sterile hybrid that won’t reseed. I have found that mine has re-seeded and when I investigated more thoroughly it has been found that it actually does reseed, though not as prolifically as others. But the seedlings will not come true. Meaning they won’t have the same attributes as the mother plant.

Rozanne and Orion (another hybrid) are both prize-winning because of their long bloom time compared to other varieties. And that attribute is not carried to its seedlings. I have found this out personally and often pull up many seedlings created by my vigorous Rozanne hardy geranium.

Though I planted it at the base of some roses to hide the bare canes at the bottom of the bush it quickly overgrew the rose, like Tiny Monster.  I treat it the same and give it a good cutting back. 

I have seen this one planted as a focal point with a short tomato cage as support and it was gorgeous.  The support cage was about 2.5 feet tall and it displayed the Rozanne Geranium like a fountain of blooms. 

Some claim they prefer moist soil but here in California we have been enduring drought conditions for 4 years and mine have done just fine. If you are just getting started with some hardy geraniums then be sure to keep them watered until they are well established. After that, they will do fine in dryer conditions.

Hardy Geraniums are not only deer resistant but pollinators love them. They pair well with other perennials in the garden like Black Eyed Susans and Daisies

perennial hardy geraniums with black eyed susans

Dividing or propagating hardy cranesbill geraniums

When you need to divide just dig up and cut through the root mass and replant, do this in Spring or Fall.(see this post on propagation by root division) Or you can cut off a piece at the edge of the plant and plant elsewhere without digging up the entire plant. 

If you want to add an easy, gorgeous plant to your garden then give Hardy Geraniums aka Cranesbill geraniums a try.  If you want full summer bloom, check and see if the selection you are thinking of buying does rebloom.  The ones I have shown in the post do re-bloom quite well. 

Happy Gardening!

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Dragon Heart Hardy Cranesbill Geranium, how to Grow hardy geraniums, Flower Patch Farmhouse

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9 Comments

  1. I have Tiny Monster and Rosanne both planted across the front of my South facing house. Due to trees, there are periods of shade in the morning and late afternoon. I’ve noticed the Tiny Monster is not bothered by the mid-day afternoon sun and heat, but the Rosannes’ leaves tend to curl up as if they have wilted every day. Have you noticed if Rosanne needs more shade or more water? Located in Maryland, we have high humidity and summer temps will be climbing into the high 90’s. I’m wondering if I should moved the Rosannes, and what I should replace them with that will tolerate heat/sun like Tiny Monster.

  2. Mine do. All of my hardy geraniums do and I cut them back to the ground. So that answer is yes.

  3. claire kibler says:

    I am five miles inland in Orange County, Southern California. Do Cranesbill Johnson Blues die back to the ground in winter? This is my first year growing them and I am wondering if I should cut them to the ground and plant winter flowers till they return in Spring.

  4. Well then the rain this weekend will be a good shot of water for them to help get the established. Good planning. 🙂

  5. I have the palest one (like in your last photo). Love the deeper colored ones. I will keep on a lookout for some of those. I just brought some from my bay area garden to the cabin and, dividing the clump into 4 pieces, transplanted them there last week. oh boy!

  6. I use a slug bait that works well for me and it is safe for organic gardening. Here is the link that takes you to Amazon. http://amzn.to/1RAJEpL This is an affiliate link. You can also find this at many local garden centers. I think there are several brands that are made from the same thing. But it works well for me.
    The lack of sun may be what is causing your Cranesbill to struggle. Try moving one to a sunnier location and see if that fixes the problem, they will know for sure. Hope this helps.

  7. I planted some Crainsbill late last summer. They looked like they were struggling. I am hoping they do better this summer. I live in Michigan. I am a little iffy about where they are planted. They are in mostly shade until about 3 or 4 pm. Do you think this is not enough sun?
    Can you tell me any tips on how to wipe out slugs? The last 2 springs we had and infestation of them. They are so icky! I really don’t want to be our there with my rubber boots and spray bottle attacking each and every one like I did last year. I ended up having dreams about them!

  8. Everybody needs something easy and reliable to grow and I don’t know that many really know about these garden lovlies.

  9. Nice post. I grow geraniums also. They are very easy to care for and very hard in my region. Thanks for sharing.

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