Geranium pratense

BLUE MEADOW CRANESBILL

SALE: Buy 1 get 2 packs

Geranium pratense
BLUE MEADOW CRANESBILL
SALE: Buy 1 get 2 packs

Geranium pratense is the much loved, old favourite Blue Meadow Cranesbill.

Much loved old favourite blue

It charms with large, soft blue blooms, in a great spring show, then with some repeats again in summer & autumn.
Each saucer of a flower is enchanting – with an ivory centre as if dusted with flour dust, and ivory veins creating a fine lace pattern.

Lovely blue solo feature or mass planted under roses

Geranium pratense is lovely grown as an individual feature plant (in garden or pot).
Or mass planted to make a lovely blooming cover under taller shrubs such as roses.
Geranium pratense is one of the tallest, and most willing growers, of all the lovely “True Geraniums”, known as “Cranesbills”

Easy to grow & low care

Plant Geranium pratense in Part Shade, or Dappled Sun, Morning Sun positions, or even in Full Shade, as it is a native of woodlands and hedges.
However if the soil is retentive, heavier, or well mulched – then it is also happy to venture out into the open and bask in the sun.
(See GROWING section below for full details)

Chop for more flowers

You can encourage repeats of flowers in summer and autumn, after the abundant display in spring has finished, by grabbing the whole clump and chopping it back to the socks.
Then watering in with some seaweed / fish emulsion product and a good feed.
So the perennial clump will happily spring away with fresh, pretty foliage and top off with more flowers.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow in punnets indoors / or scatter in garden late winter-early spring.

Sow indoors for quick plants & early flowers: First sow the seeds in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat the seeds gently into the surface of the mix to ensure good contact.
But barely cover the seeds with a fine sprinkle with grit/sieved mix/fine sand/small vermiculite.

Now thoroughly moisten the punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath.
And allowing the moisture to percolate to the surface of the mix from below.

Then place the punnet in a well-lit position (but not in any direct sunlight) for 2-4 weeks.

Moist warm period first

Temperatures of 15-20 °C are optimum for this stage.
A temperature controlled heat mat can be used if you have one.

Continue to keep the punnet consistently moist by misting with a spray water-bottle.
Covering the unnet with a clear plastic lid or plastic bag can also help to maintain consistent moisture and prevent drying out.

A pretend winter helps

After 2-4 weeks of moist warmth, then wrap punnet in cling wrap & place in fridge (not freezer) for a further 4-6 weeks.
Then remove from fridge, unwrap punnet & return to warm, well lit place or heat mat at 15-20 °C.

Most seedlings should emerge in approx. 30 to 90 days, but not all may germinate at once.
So do not discard the punnet, as some seedlings may come later.

Seed Count: 10 seeds per pack
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

Why are they called “Cranesbills”?

Cranesbills (otherwise known as hardy Geraniums, or true Geraniums) are often confused with the Pelargoniums we commonly call “Geraniums”.
My Grandmother grew her “Geraniums” (really mop head Pelargoniums) beside the old outside “thunderbox” on her farm, while the stylish Swiss love to grow them in window-boxes.

But Cranesbills are true hardy Geraniums, not Pelargoniums.
They are refined and beautiful garden treasures, and very different to Grandma’s old thunderbox “Geraniums”.

They called Cranesbills because their seed pods are long, elegant and very decorative, looking all the world like the bills of Cranes.

GROWING: Geranium pratense

Height with flowers: 40-45cm High in flower.
Width: 60cm. Wide clump of prettily dissected foliage.

Position: Shade or dappled light for part of the day is preferred, particularly in hotter areas. However, in cooler areas, or gardens that are well mulched and tended, then Geranium pratense can happily tolerate full sun exposure.
Or they can also prosper in Full Shade

Hardy long lived perennial clump

Growth: Hardy and long-lived perennial clump that gently increases in size and flower-power each year.

Soil: Geranium pratense tolerates a wide range of soils, including sandy, loam or heavier clay-based soils; acid or alkaline lime-based soils on either side of neutral pH.
However all soil types should be well-drained.
Geranium pratense will appreciate the addition of compost and organic matter to any soil.
Water: Geranium pratense requires only average garden water and is not a particularly thirsty plant, when it is well mulched and has organic matter added to the garden site.
Frost: Very frost hardy. Hardy down to at least -20C, depending on conditions.

Pots: Excellent pot specimen with striking dark foliage colour contrasting beautifully with intense lilac-blue flowers. Plus decorative cut leaf shapes.  

Bees & Birds: The flowers are visited by bees and other beneficial pollinating insects and are very useful for butterflies.

Low maintenance plant 

Care & Maintenance: Low maintenance plant. You can cut back the foliage after flowering if you wish, and this promotes new crops of those beautiful dark contrasting leaves and glowing flowers. But it is not essential maintenance.

Fertilizer: Fertilizer can be applied in spring and autumn.
We recommend to water in with Seasol at planting. Then follow up with Seasol foliar feeds to strengthen plant growth, health and resistance.
Pruning: The clump can be cut back whenever you wish to tidy it up or after spring flowering regenerate new growth and more flowers. But it is not essential work.
Pests & Diseases: Rarely troubled by pests or diseases.

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