Common Name: cranesbill
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Geraniaceae
Zone: 6 to 8
Height: 0.75 to 1.00 feet
Spread: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to July
Bloom Description: Shell pink with dark purple veins and pale centers
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Medium
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. Tolerates some drought, but prefers moist, humusy, well-drained soils, particularly in hot summer climates. Somewhat intolerant of the heat and humidity of the deep South. ‘
Mavis Simpson’ may not be reliably winter hardy throughout the St. Louis area where it should be planted in a protected location.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Geranium × riversleaianum is a hybrid hardy geranium (G. endressii × G. traversii) that typically grows in a low mound to 9-12” tall and spreads by trailing stems to 2-3’ wide.
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.
‘Mavis Simpson’ features five-petaled, shell pink flowers (to 1.5” diameter) with dark purple veins and pale pink to white centers. Flowers bloom from summer to fall. In hot summer climates such as St. Louis, bloom may slow down considerably in the heat of the summer. Palmate, deeply lobed, gray-green leaves (to 4” across) form an attractive ground cover throughout the growing season.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Border fronts, rock gardens, cottage gardens or wild gardens. Small area ground cover.