Bloody geranium Geranium sanguineum - Organic pink - Hardy plant

Dig a wide hole for the geranium sanguinieum and loosen the soil with a fork. Improve the soil with a mix of compost and well-rotted manure. Plant the French Cranesbill so that the top of the root ball in just below soil level. Fill the hole and heel well in. Water immediately. The pale pink French Cranesbill will thrive in full sun or part shade in fertile, permeable soil. Combining geraniums The attractive leaf of Geranium sanguineum makes it great to have around both before and after flowering too. This plant forms a clump and covers the ground. The lilac flowers look great together with stachys (Stachys officinalis ‘Rosea’) veronica (Veronic spicata) and lady’s mantle (Alchemilla mollis).

Geranium sanguineum is an easily grown perennial requiring little or no maintenance. Just ensure that the soil does not dry out too much. Cut back the whole plant to 3 cm above ground level after flowering to encourage reflowering. Split the plant every three years to rejuvenate it. While this plant does prefer moist, well-drained soil, it can tolerate drought rather well! A perfect garden resident! Cranesbill in winter In autumn, the leaves change to red and yellow. That in itself is a magnificent sight! Before winter, the stems will die above ground. Cover the plants in winter with a layer of fallen leaves. Give a litte garden manure early in spring. Remove all leaves in early spring. You will soon see new shoots coming out of the ground.

One of the geraniums (Geraniaceae), this plant’s flowers are a great favourite with butterflies and bees. The rhizome spreads gradually and is not too invasive at all.