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Geranium palustre

Geranium palustre
Marsh Cranesbill, Marsh Geranium

4,7/5
5 reviews
2 reviews
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well-protected plant. Good establishment so far, even though there is little hindsight.

Nathalie E., 21/07/2019

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
This perennial botanical geranium hides beneath its apparent shyness, a conquering temperament revealed by its upright habit. Its vibrant flowers, deep rose to purplish, adorn in summer a deeply cut, bright green foliage abundantly sprinkled with small lighter dots, and in autumn they take on reddish hues. Comfortable in wet areas, it is ideal for embellishing the surroundings of water points, damp rockeries or decorating beds in marshy terrain.
Flower size
3 cm
Height at maturity
40 cm
Spread at maturity
40 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil, Damp soil
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Best planting time March to April, September to October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time June to September
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Description

The Marsh Cranesbill, also known as the Marsh Geranium, is a botanical species that hides a conquering temperament behind its apparent shyness, revealed by its upright habit. Its bright flowers, deep pink to purplish, adorn its deeply cut, vivid green foliage throughout the summer, abundantly sprinkled with small lighter dots, and then take on pretty reddish hues in autumn. At ease in wet areas, it is ideal for embellishing water features, wet rockeries, or decorating beds in marshy terrain.

 

The Marsh Cranesbill belongs to the family of Geraniaceae. It originates from the marshy and wet meadows of central Europe, from Sweden to Turkey, as well as western Asia. This very hardy perennial is rarely observed because its habitat is often inaccessible and not sought after by humans. It forms an upright clump of deciduous foliage, reaching a height of 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) when in flower, and a width of 40 cm (16in). It has a dense and erect habit. The flowering period takes place in July-August, and then, more sporadically, in September-October. The flower is bright and clearly visible against the foliage. It measures 2.5 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, and is coloured in deep and vivid pink, sometimes veined with purple. The flowers are arranged in clusters along slender, creeping, and villous floral stems, forming a crown around the plant, and stand out distinctly from the foliage. The leaves are highly cut, and change color in autumn. This species shows an adaptive feature to a wet environment; the roots of its creeping rootstock, the stems, and leaves are rich in calcium oxalate crystals, a very hard and insoluble mineral in water, and an irritant that gives it its upright habit and protects it from herbivores.

 

The Marsh Geranium has long been appreciated in gardens, where it has sometimes escaped and naturalized in the surroundings. Its long flowering period is an asset in organic gardens, as it attracts pollinators and beneficial insects. It prefers wet situations, making it suitable for ornamenting water features. However, it can tolerate drier situations if the soil remains moist and it is planted in partial shade. It is a good long-term ground cover, ideal for bringing life to a wild garden or a countryside bed. In wet soil, it pairs well with ferns, hostas, willowherbs, and Cape lilies. At the edge of woodlands, it will go well with lungworts in pastel tones.

Geranium palustre in pictures

Geranium palustre (Flowering) Flowering
Geranium palustre (Foliage) Foliage
Geranium palustre (Plant habit) Plant habit

Flowering

Flower colour pink
Flowering time June to September
Inflorescence Cyme
Flower size 3 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 40 cm
Spread at maturity 40 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Geranium

Species

palustre

Family

Geraniaceae

Other common names

Marsh Cranesbill, Marsh Geranium

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference808131

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Planting and care

The paludal perennial geranium is a very tolerant plant that accepts ordinary soil, even limestone, but prefers a rich and moist to wet soil, in which it will be more flowering, more beautiful. It is a geranium for sun or semi-shade. Cut the faded stems after flowering. It is a reliable perennial that requires practically no maintenance.

 

To install your Marsh Geranium, work your soil on a 20 cm (8in) cube by crumbling the soil well and placing a background amendment such as dried blood or dehydrated horn at the bottom of the planting hole, position your plant, removed from its pot, by covering the top of the root ball with 3 cm (1in) of soil, fill in and water copiously to remove air pockets. In dry weather, regular and abundant watering is necessary for a few weeks to facilitate root growth. Afterwards, it will be necessary to ensure that the soil remains consistently moist.

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Planting period

Best planting time March to April, September to October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Shaded rockery, Woodland edge, Undergrowth
Type of use Edge of border
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Neutral, Calcareous
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Clayey-chalky (heavy and alkaline), Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Damp soil, humus-bearing, fertile.

Care

Pruning instructions After flowering, it is wise to cut back the stems and leaves to ground level in order to avoid excessive sowing and to promote new foliage and encourage a second flowering.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time July to August
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,7/5
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