Common Name: cranesbill
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Geraniaceae
Zone: 5 to 8
Height: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Spread: 1.50 to 2.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Description: Violet-blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Flower: Showy
Attracts: Butterflies
Tolerate: Rabbit, Deer, Drought
Culture
Easily grown in average, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. Appreciates some afternoon shade in the St. Louis area. Tolerates some drought, but prefers moist, humusy, well-drained soils, particularly in hot summer climates. Trim plants after flowering to shape and to stimulate new foliage growth. Plants tend to become leggy and/or flop with age, and in such case may be cut back to basal foliage to revitalize. Regardless of pruning technique, plants will not rebloom. G. x magnificum cultivars are sterile hybrids.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Geranium × magnificum is a hybrid hardy geranium (G. ibericum × G. platypetalum). It typically grows in a clump to 18-24” tall on generally upright stems clad with palmate, hairy, deeply-lobed (5-7 divisions), green leaves.
Genus name comes from the Greek word geranos meaning crane in reference to the fruit which purportedly resembles the head and beak of a crane.
The hybrid name magnificum means magnificent.
‘Rosemoor’ features five-petaled, violet blue flowers (to 1.5” diameter) in early to mid-summer.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Flowering stems tend to flop, particularly when subjected to strong winds or rainstorms.
Uses
Borders, cottage gardens or wild gardens.