Bigroot Cranesbill
A classic choice for providing effortless ground coverage, this award-winning perennial is highly valued for its soft and romantic appearance. It creates a lush, weed-suppressing mat of aromatic, light green foliage that remains attractive throughout the growing season. In late Spring and early Summer, it produces a mass of delicate, five-petalled flowers in a soft shade of pale pink, which contrast beautifully against its slightly rounded, lobed leaves. The foliage is semi-evergreen and releases a pleasant, spicy scent when brushed against or crushed. As the garden moves into Autumn, the leaves often take on warm orange and red tints, providing a final display of colour before the Winter. This variety is exceptionally versatile and robust, making it suitable for almost any garden position, including the difficult dry shade found under large trees or hedges. Geranium macrorrhizum Ingwersen's Variety is famously easy to maintain and is largely ignored by pests like slugs and snails. Its spicy fragrance also makes it a great choice for gardens where deer or rabbits are a concern. Once established, it is remarkably drought-tolerant and handles exposed, breezy sites with ease, making it a reliable performer for the Irish climate.
Site: Suitable for open, exposed sites or sheltered corners.
Soil: Tolerates most soil types, including dry, poor soils, and clay.
Position: Full sun, partial shade, or full shade.
Season of Interest: Summer, Autumn
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 12-14" (30-40cm) Spread: 2' (60cm)
Image by David Stang cropped, and licensed by CC BY-SA 4.0
