The illustrated growing guide
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill)
Geranium 'Rozanne' & spp.
Family Geraniaceae
Est. zones 4-8
Not the annual 'geranium' (that's Pelargonium) — these are the true hardy perennial geraniums, and they're among the best-behaved plants in the garden: a long-blooming, weed-smothering mound that shrugs off deer, drought, and neglect. 'Rozanne' flowers from late spring until frost, which almost nothing else does. Shear it once mid-season to refresh.
Full Sun to Part Shade
Moderate water
Moderate growth
Deer-resistant
Attracts bees
From the print shop
The closest print we make
We don’t print Geranium 'Rozanne' & spp. The closest we have is Geranium maculatum (“Wild Geranium”) in the Wildflowers Vol. 2 collection — the same genus, Geranium, not the same species.
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will hardy geranium (cranesbill) suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what hardy geranium (cranesbill) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 4-8Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) at a glance
Common hardy geranium (cranesbill) problems
- Almost none — deer- and rabbit-resistant
- Almost none
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow hardy geranium (cranesbill): light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate hardy geranium (cranesbill)
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The year
What hardy geranium (cranesbill) asks for, month by month.
The hardy geranium (cranesbill) year, month by month
BloomWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
The hardy geranium (cranesbill) year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar quiet month
- Apr quiet month
- May bloom
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
- Living mulch
What hardy geranium (cranesbill) is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of hardy geranium (cranesbill), ruled as a catalogue.
Best hardy geranium (cranesbill) varieties & cultivars
'Rozanne' (violet-blue, blooms May-frost — Perennial Plant of the Year); 'Biokovo' (groundcover); 'Johnson's Blue'
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to hardy geranium (cranesbill)yet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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Questions
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat hardy geranium (cranesbill)?
Rarely — hardy geranium (cranesbill) is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is hardy geranium (cranesbill) safe for kids and pets?
Hardy Geranium (Cranesbill) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate hardy geranium (cranesbill)?
Division or seed.
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Elsewhere
Where hardy geranium (cranesbill) sits in the library.
Nasturtium
Juniper
Blue Fescue
Hens and Chicks