To plant this cranesbill, prepare a suitable hole and loosen the soil with a fork. Improve poor soil with a mix of garden compost and fertiliser pellets. Plant the geranium platypetalum's root ball at the correct depth in the hole – the top of the root ball should come to just below ground level. Fill the hole with soil and press firmly. Water immediately after planting. This purplish-blue cranesbill thrives in a spot in full sun or partial shade in loose, fertile soil.

Combining geraniums

Thanks to the fresh leaves of the geranium platypetalum it still remains decorative both during and after flowering. Its leaves form a bushy ground covering clump. This purplish-blue cranesbill is wonderful in the border combined with stachys (Stachys officinalis 'Rosea'), veronica (Veronica spicata and lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis).

Geranium platypetalum is an easy to grow perennial that requires little or no maintenance. Make sure that the soil around the roots does not dry out. Once all the flowers have bloomed, the whole plant may be cut back to 3 cm to encourage reflowering. Dig up and split the plant every 3 years to keep it young and richly flowering. While this plant prefers a damp but well drained soil, it can withstand drought! The perfect garden plant!

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.

Cranesbill falls under the geranium family (Geraniaceae) and is also known as Geranium x magnifica. The rhizome does extend into the garden, but in a non-invasive manner.