Often overlooked as a no frills bed filler! Geranium Macrorrhizum (Or big-root, cranes bill) is the shy kid of the flowerbed!

It isn’t showy or loud, it just grows quietly and happily without any fuss. In fact, you may have walked passed it several times, and not even noticed it! Yet, if it was to disappear, you would certainly miss it! Here’s why Geranium Macrorrhizum is so fabulous!…

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Geranium Macrorrhizum characteristics ?

Geranium Macrorrhizum is a mat-forming, semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial, which blooms from Late Spring- Summer. The leaves are rounded and divided, and have a lovely aromatic scent.

The Magenta- Pink flowers are delicate and dainty, sitting proudly on slender stems above the lush green foliage. Each flower is around 3 cm across with small rounded petals

Come Autumn, the leaves of the Geranium Macrorrhizum turn a beautiful bronze colour, and as winter arrives they develop a tint of Crimson.

Each plant can reach heights of 40cm (16”) and a spread of 60cm (24”).

Other common names for Geranium Macrorrhizum, include bigroot geranium, Bulgarian geranium, and crane’s-bill.

11 Reasons Geranium Macrorrhizum is so fabulous!

I love an underdog! They can always surprise you! This unassuming plant may look ordinary, and kinda plain, but don’t be deceived! Here are 11 fabulous reasons why you should be growing Geranium Macrorrhizum….

Geranium Macrorrhizum is super easy to grow and requires little to no fussing. We’re talking minimal maintenance! Simply plant and let it do its thing!
Once established, Geranium Macrorrhizum is drought tolerant and requires only moderate watering
Geranium macrorrhizum makes a fabulous ground cover. Able to tolerate both sunny and dry shade environments
Long does it endure! This plant falls into the ‘Die Hard’ Category! It is a very forgiving plant! It has no quit, and will thrive for several years
The mini beasts dont like it! Yep, even slugs and snails turn their noses up at Geranium Macrorrhizum .
Geranium Macrorrhizum has a Long period of Bloom! We’re talking pops of pink from May-September!.
Super easy to propogate! Want more Geranium Macrorrhizum? For some free plants, simply dig up and divide. **This can be done in autumn, or in spring. Simply lift the plant with a garden fork and pull the plant apart, dividing and separating the root structure. Replant straight away.
Works in a variety Of Garden Schemes– Courtyard and Urban gardens, Cottage Gardens, Flower borders, and is ideal for underplanting with Roses.
Easily colonise’s difficult areas of the garden. An especially good choice for planting under trees and shrubs and other part shaded areas of the garden.
Fast Growing! and Fully Hardy!
Pollinators love it! Geranium Macrorrhizum is known for attracting bees, beneficial insects, butterflies/moths and other pollinators.

How To Grow geranium macrorrhizum

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Buy Geranium Macrorrhizum Seeds

Sow indoors – February-May

Surface Sow Seeds around 2cm apart in pots or trays of compost, cover with a light sprinkling of compost. Keep the soil moist, but not sodden.
Place on a warm windowsill. Cover with a propagator lid, cellophane bag or cling film
Germination can take 30- 90 days and can be slow and erratic
When large enough to handle, prick out and pot on into larger pots
Plant Out once all chance of frost has passed * Be sure to harden off indoor raised seedlings first

What Does Hardening Off Mean?
Plants raised indoors or in a greenhouse environment, need to be acclimatised to cooler temperatures and increased air movement for about two to three weeks before they are planted outdoors permanently. This is a ‘toughening up’ practice to prepare the plants for their new environment.

How to Harden Off
Place your plants out for a couple of hours in a shady part of the garden. The next day, leave them out again for two hours, but this time allow the plants an hour of direct sunshine in the morning. Gradually continue to increase the length of time the plants are in direct sunshine over the course of roughly two weeks.

**Should you have seeds which have not germinated by Autumn, leave the seed tray outside where the cold winter weather can offer the natural conditions required for germination the following spring.

Growing Via Division

In autumn, or in spring. Simply lift the plant from the earth with a garden fork, and pull the plant apart, dividing and separating the root structure. Replant the seperate plants straight away.

Where To Plant Geranium Macrorrhizum

Plant geranium macrorrhizum in a well-drained soil in a full sun to part shade spot.

geranium macrorrhizum Water Requirements

Geranium Macrorrhizum is a drought tolerant plant, but enjoys moderate watering. *Important, it will not tolerate waterlogged soil. It will sulk and wilt.

When to cut back Geranium macrorrhizum?

Should you cut back and Prune Geranium macrorrhizum? I rarely bother! The only maintenance I dole out, is a general tidy of the faded blooms, which I remove via dead heading. Foliage, I mostly leave alone, accept for the occasional removal of yellowing leaves.