Geranium sanguineum L.
Bloody Crane's-bill
Bloody crane's-bill is one of the most striking native British wild geraniums, a clump-forming perennial bearing large, vivid magenta to crimson-purple flowers held singly above neatly rounded, deeply divided leaves. The foliage often takes on rich red tints in autumn, and the plant forms low, spreading mounds.
About
Bloody crane's-bill is one of the most striking native British wild geraniums, a clump-forming perennial bearing large, vivid magenta to crimson-purple flowers held singly above neatly rounded, deeply divided leaves. The foliage often takes on rich red tints in autumn, and the plant forms low, spreading mounds. It is the county flower of Northumberland.
In the wild it grows on limestone grassland, rocky outcrops, scree and coastal dunes, favouring sunny, well-drained, lime-rich ground. It flowers through the summer, roughly June to August, and the open, nectar-rich blooms are popular with bees and other pollinators. Hardy, long-lived and very ornamental, it is equally at home in calcareous meadows and naturalistic plantings or in cultivated borders, gravel gardens and sunny banks, where it provides long-lasting colour and good wildlife value on dry, free-draining soils.
Also known as
Bloody Geranium · blood-red crane's-bill
Synonyms
Geranium grandiflorum · Geranium lancastriense · Geranium prostratum · Geranium sanguineiforme · Geranium sanguineum biflorum · Geranium sanguineum coeruleum · Geranium sanguineum grandiflorum · Geranium sanguineum macranthum · Geranium sanguineum villosum
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.