Perennial Geraniums or Cranesbills

There are about 300 species of geraniums.  There is even a species of Geranium (Geranium maculatum) that is native to Iowa woodlands. Perennial or hardy geraniums are the “true geraniums” -- unlike the common “annual geraniums” (genus Pelargonium), which are often grown in outdoor containers.  Perennial geraniums are also called cranesbills because their long, slender fruit resemble the beak or bill of a crane.

Cranesbills are an underutilized species of perennials in Iowa landscapes.  Cranesbills are reliable bloomers in sites in full sun to part shade with well-drained soils.  They have few insect or disease problems, and are often long-lived in the landscape.

There are many species and cultivars available to gardeners.  In fact, the sheer number of cultivars available is daunting.   Perennial geraniums vary in bloom time, flower color, flower size, height, leaf color, and habit.  Depending on species/cultivar, most flower for 2 to 4 weeks, beginning in mid to late spring and finishing sometime in summer.  Flower colors range from pale pinks, lavender, and white to intense purple-pink, maroon, or blues with dark or light contrasting centers or veining.  Leaves are lobed or somewhat dissected.  Most have medium green leaves, but a few species like G. pheaum or G. pratense cultivars have dark purple leaves or dark markings on leaves in spring.  Several cranesbill species develop red or burgundy leaf color in fall.  Some species sprawl, while others have a more mounding habit.  Finding one that suits your landscape is fairly easy.  Because there are so many species and cultivars available to the public, the Chicago Botanic Garden has evaluated many of them for their performance in the garden.  The table below is information compiled from their published trials of the better performers for Midwestern landscapes. 

Visit https://www.chicagobotanic.org/sites/default/files/pdf/plantinfo/geraniumfinegardening2012.pdf for more detailed comparison of cultivars.