The large family of cranesbill plants is extremely versatile: In addition to small, delicate border perennials and large-flowered varieties, the ground-covering cranesbill species are particularly popular. We introduce you to some of the most beautiful varieties.
Which cranesbill species are suitable as ground cover?
Evergreen species such as Balkan or Cambridge cranesbill are particularly suitable as cranesbill groundcovers. Shade-tolerant varieties such as Oxford cranesbill or knotty mountain forest cranesbill are ideal for dark locations. Plant about 5-16 specimens per square meter.
Which cranesbill is suitable for ground cover?
In the table below we have put together some cranesbill species that are particularly suitable for ground-covering planting. Particularly recommended is the evergreen rock cranesbill, also known as the Balkan cranesbill. If you are looking for a ground cover to keep those annoying weeds away, an evergreen plant is a good choice. In dark locations, however, it makes more sense to choose a shade-tolerant ground cover.
Overview: Suitable cranesbill species
| Storksbill species | Latin name | Flowering time | Growth height | Location | Plants per square meter | Special feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balkan Cranesbill | Geranium macrorrhizum | May to July | up to 30 cm | sunny to shady | 8 | evergreen |
| Cambridge cranesbill | Geranium cantabrigiense | May to July | up to 25 cm | sunny to partially shaded | 16 | evergreen |
| Clarke's Cranesbill | Geranium clarkei | June to August | up to 50 cm | sunny to partially shaded | 11 | very vigorous |
| Himalayan Cranesbill | Geranium himalayense | June and July | up to 40 cm | sunny to partially shaded | 8 | for sunny discounts |
| Heart-leaved cranesbill | Geranium ibericum | June and July | up to 50 cm | sunny to partially shaded | 8 | underplanting |
| Splendid Cranesbill | Geranium magnificum | May to June | up to 60 cm | sunny to partially shaded | 11 | underplanting |
| Oxford cranesbill | Geranium oxonianum | June to August | up to 60 cm | sunny to shady | 5 | shade tolerant |
| Gnarled Mountain Forest Cranesbill | Geranium nodosum | June to August | up to 50 cm | sunny to shady | 11 | shade tolerant |
| Caucasus Cranesbill | Geranium renardii | June to July | up to 30 cm | sunny | 11 | Decorative leaf perennial |
Planting and caring for ground cover plants
Basically, ground-covering plants like the cranesbill need little care. This also makes sense, after all, such planting is basically intended to save the gardener work by keeping unwanted weeds away. Therefore, before planting a ground cover, you should first thoroughly till the soil and remove all weeds. For this reason, ground-covering perennials should, if possible, only be planted in late summer when weed growth has slowed down.
Tip
Avoid loosening the soil with a hoe after planting: the sharp metal edges can seriously damage the roots, which are usually quite low.
