Geranium sanguineum

Geranium sanguineum: Crimson Charm with a Wild Spirit
Bright, bold, and brimming with life, Geranium sanguineum—commonly known as bloody cranesbill—is a spirited perennial that brings vivid colour and rugged endurance to the garden. Low-growing and mounded, it produces masses of magenta to reddish-purple blooms from late spring through summer, each flower like a tiny jewel above finely cut foliage. As the season cools, its deeply lobed leaves take on glowing crimson tones, adding a fiery finale to this hardworking and beautiful groundcover.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 25–30 cm
• Spread: 40–60 cm, forming a tidy, mounded clump
• Flower Colour: Deep magenta to reddish-purple with darker veins
• Flowering Period: Late spring to midsummer, with occasional rebloom in autumn
• Foliage: Finely divided, dark green leaves turning crimson in fall
• Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Requirements: Well-drained soil; tolerates dry, sandy, or rocky soils once established

Uses and Benefits: Geranium sanguineum is ideal for rock gardens, sunny borders, and slopes where it forms tidy mounds of foliage and long-lasting colour. Its blooms attract bees and butterflies, while its dense habit helps suppress weeds and conserve soil moisture. With its drought tolerance, deer resistance, and seasonal leaf colour, it provides multi-season interest in even the toughest sites. Low maintenance and endlessly charming, it's a perennial workhorse for naturalistic and formal plantings alike.

Companion Plants: Pair Geranium sanguineum with Nepeta 'Junior Walker', whose sprawling lavender-blue flowers provide a cool-toned complement and share a love for sunny, dry soils. Add Coreopsis 'Zagreb', whose bright yellow daisy flowers contrast beautifully with the magenta blooms and echo the mounded form. Finish the look with Festuca 'Boulder Blue', whose fine, steely foliage adds texture and softness beneath the cranesbill’s vibrant display.

Care Instructions: Plant in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. Water regularly during establishment; afterward, G. sanguineum is drought-tolerant and thrives with little care. Deadheading encourages rebloom, though not essential. Cut back after flowering to neaten the plant and encourage fresh foliage. Divide clumps every 4–5 years in spring or fall to maintain vigour.

History: Native to Europe and parts of Asia, Geranium sanguineum has been cultivated for centuries in cottage and wild gardens. Its common name, "bloody cranesbill," refers to the red colour of its fall foliage and the beak-like shape of its seed capsules. As one of the most durable and floriferous hardy geraniums, it has inspired numerous cultivars, each offering the same wild charm with slight variations in form and colour.

Final Thoughts: With vivid blooms, fiery fall foliage, and a no-fuss nature, Geranium sanguineum is a garden essential that thrives in sun-drenched borders, rocky outcrops, and cottage-style plantings. Whether planted en masse or tucked between stones, it brings natural colour and classic beauty to the landscape—proof that even the toughest plants can bloom with wild grace.