Between 380 and 430 different species of cranesbill or geranium are known worldwide. All cranesbill species have flowers with five petals, although these can take on very different shapes. The color spectrum ranges from white to shades of blue, pink and magenta to violet. After the flower is fertilized, the style lengthens and forms the “beak,” from which the genus takes its name. We would like to introduce you to some of the most popular cranesbill species and their varieties here.
What different species of cranesbill are there?
There are over 400 different species of cranesbill (Geranium), including Cambridge, Gray, Clarke's, Himalayan, Superb, Oxford and Crimson Cranesbills. They have a variety of flower colors such as white, blue, pink, magenta and violet and are suitable for various garden areas from rockeries to wooded areas.
Cambridge cranesbill (Geranium cantabrigiense)
This compact, mild-winter evergreen perennial has light green leaves that turn reddish in fall. From May to July, dense inflorescences of numerous flat, mostly purple-pink or white flowers appear above the foliage. The plant grows to about 25 centimeters high and twice as wide. The perennial is particularly suitable as a ground cover between trees, but also in rock gardens, along paths and stairs and in pots.
Grey Cranesbill (Geranium cinereum)
The plant, which grows up to 15 centimeters high and about twice as wide, forms loose clumps of small rosettes. What is particularly striking is the distinctive grey-green colored foliage, from which short-stemmed inflorescences with several white or pale pink flowers appear between June and September. The perennial is ideal for rock gardens and edging gravel beds, but also for balcony boxes and pots.
Clarke's cranesbill (Geranium clarkei)
This is a sprawling, rhizome-forming perennial that spreads practically indefinitely. It grows to around 50 centimeters high and has lobed leaves up to 15 centimeters long. Loose inflorescences with four to five centimeter wide, purple-violet or white flowers appear from June to August. The species is very suitable as a ground cover between trees and for borders.
Himalayan cranesbill (Geranium himalayense)
The Himalayan cranesbill, which grows up to 40 centimeters high, is a vigorous ground cover for sunny borders that gets along particularly well with roses. The species has exceptionally large flowers for cranesbills, which are usually violet-blue or pinkish-red in color. Flowering time is between June and July.
Splendid cranesbill (Geranium magnificum)
The lush purple-blue blooming stork's bill grows to about 60 centimeters high and just as wide. Please note that this species only flowers once and for a relatively short time, but is a real eye-catcher thanks to the very dense inflorescences with their numerous, very large flowers. The perennial goes particularly well with peonies.
Oxford cranesbill (Geranium oxonianum)
This cranesbill is ideal for problematic locations under and between groups of trees and is very tolerant of shade. However, you should not plant it in borders because it dominates other plants too much. The long shoots can even overgrow small bushes. The plant grows up to 80 centimeters high and 60 centimeters wide, the mostly pink flowers appear in loose inflorescences between June and August.
Blood-red cranesbill (Geranium sanguineum)
This delicate species, which is only around 30 centimeters high - some varieties are even much weaker - also thrives excellently in pots and containers and is a wonderful rose companion. Due to the distinctive foliage, which turns red in autumn, the decorative effect is enormous even beyond the flowering period.
Particularly recommended cranesbill varieties
In the table below you will find a clear list of some of the most beautiful cranesbill varieties. Due to the large number of different variants, the table is of course not complete.
| Variety | Art | Bloom |
|---|---|---|
| Biokovo | Geranium cantabrigiense | soft pink |
| Karmina | Geranium cantabrigiense | carmine red |
| Saint Ola | Geranium cantabrigiense | white |
| Ballerinas | Geranium cinereum | purplepink |
| Kashmir Blue | Geranium clarkei | pale blue |
| Kashmir Pink | Geranium clarkei | pink |
| Kashmir White | Geranium clarkei | white with gray-pink veins |
| Gravetye | Geranium himalayense | lavender blue with pink center |
| Plenum | Geranium himalayense | violetblue |
| Vital | Geranium ibericum | blue violet |
| Czakor | Geranium macrorrhizum | magenta red |
| Spessart | Geranium macrorrhizum | white with brown center |
| Rosemoor | Geranium magnificum | purple violet |
| Rosenlicht | Geranium oxonianum | bright magenta pink |
| Apple blossom | Geranium sanguineum | soft pink |
Tip
The most popular hybrid varieties include: the very flowering cranesbill hybrid “Rozanne” with its violet-blue flowers.
