Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill)
Geranium 'Rozanne' & spp.
Family Geraniaceae
Hardy geranium is the quiet overachiever of the perennial border — tidy mounds stitched with saucer flowers in blues, purples, and pinks, and the famous 'Rozanne' keeps opening them from late spring until frost, a run almost nothing else in the garden can match.
As a companion it is nearly ideal: the dense foliage smothers weeds, deer and drought roll off it, bees drop in all season, and it weaves politely between roses and shrubs without climbing them. Wherever bare soil keeps sprouting trouble, lay down a living mulch that flowers.
Where to buy hardy geranium (cranesbill) — 2 nurseries compared
Full Sun to Part Shade
Moderate water
Moderate growth
Deer-resistant
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing hardy geranium (cranesbill)? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries hardy geranium (cranesbill) — Geranium rozanne, print Nº 134, “Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill).”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what hardy geranium (cranesbill) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-8Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) · Common problems
Common hardy geranium (cranesbill) problems
Pests
1 problem on file
- Almost none — deer- and rabbit-resistant
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Almost none
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) · Growing & propagation
Growing hardy geranium (cranesbill)
- Light
- Full Sun to Part Shade
- Water
- Moderate; adaptable
Soil- Any well-drained · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Light spring feed
Pruning- Shear mid-season
Shear the whole plant by half after the first flush for a fresh mound and rebloom; otherwise nearly care-free.
Spacing- 18-24 in
How to plant & propagate hardy geranium (cranesbill)
- Propagate
- Division or seed
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) · Yearly calendar
The hardy geranium (cranesbill) year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
BloomBloomMay
What each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Geranium 'Rozanne' & spp.
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
- Living mulch
Attracts- Bees
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
- Deer
- Resistant
A safer unfenced choice
Origin- Introduced
What hardy geranium (cranesbill) is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Use- Long bloom
- Use
- Weed-smothering
- Use
- Deer-resistant
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a hardy geranium (cranesbill) variety
'Rozanne' (violet-blue, blooms May-frost — Perennial Plant of the Year); 'Biokovo' (groundcover); 'Johnson's Blue'
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
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Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill)
Geranium 'Rozanne' & spp.
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Geranium 'Rozanne' & spp.
- Plant family
- Geraniaceae
- Growth habit
- Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- GERAN
- Invasive risk
- Low
- Other names
- Geranium (true/hardy geranium)
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
Questions
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat hardy geranium (cranesbill)?
Rarely — hardy geranium (cranesbill) is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is hardy geranium (cranesbill) safe for kids and pets?
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate hardy geranium (cranesbill)?
Division or seed.
Elsewhere
Where hardy geranium (cranesbill) sits in the library.
Nasturtium
Juniper
Blue Fescue
Hens and Chicks