Valuable for providing low growing evergreen (or nearly) groundcover and spring flowers. They are one of the most useful for providing cover in poor soils, especially under shrubs, trees or hedges. This group are the most useful spreading cranesbills you can find.
Geranium macorrhizum is the larger species and typically gets to 20cm-30cm tall in flower, and most forms spread across the ground by underground stems that come up on the edge of the existing plant. The older varieties are mostly evergreen, with autumn winter foliage colour, and tend to have a good display of white to magenta flowers in mid-late spring. In more recent years some largely deciduous forms have been introduced that are less spreading but a bit more delicate. All forms have leaves and stems that are scented, mostly of a spicy aroma.
Geranium macrorrhizum can hybridise with the diminuitive relative Geranium dalmaticum to create the hybrid species Geranium x cantabrigiense which performs the same job in the garden as Geranium macrorrhizum, but on a slightly smaller scale. Most forms 15cm-20cm tall, and pretty well all evergreen they provide a very good, uniform groundcover suitable for edging beds, under shrubs or trees and even for larger rockeries.
Both Geranium x cantabrigiense and Geranium macrorrhizum are good in sun or light shade, in any soil that is not too dry or damp. They are both suitable for growing on banks and winter hardy throughout the UK.
Bright, rich magenta pink flowers on this evergreen groundcover for drained soil in sun or part shade. Good autumn/winter foliage colour and green new growth in spring. 25cm.
A recent introduction with very compact growth and masses of small deep pink flowers in late spring. Not really a groundcover but a spreading patch to 15cm high.
One of the original forms but now very rare. Low carpets of evergreen leaves and showy pink flowers in spring to 20cm. Average soil in sun or part shade.
Very pretty true-pink flowers from late spring to early summer. Makes a low carpet of evergreen leaves, useful around medium-sized perennials or grasses. Any drained soil in sun or light shade, 20cm.
A new form from Denmark with lovely soft rich pink flowers with near white edges - a reverse picotee. Evergreen foliage on a low carpet for ordinary soil in sun or light shade. 20cm.
Deep pink flowers from late spring to early summer over a low spreading carpet of evergreen leaves, use around medium-sized perennials or grasses. Any drained soil in sun or light shade, 20cm
A new cultivar from Alan Bremner (2024) with clear pink flowers with a distinct white centre held well above the evergreen foliage. Good autumn colour. 20cm.
