Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth

Name: Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth
Brand: Geraniums
SKU: pda305
Price: 5.90 EUR
Availability: InStock

€5,90

Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth is a hardy geranium known as Bloody Cranesbill, appreciated for its long blooming magenta-pink flowers and attractive foliage.

The flowers are bright magenta-pink, cup-shaped flowers with dark veins, typically around 4 cm in diameter.

The deeply lobed, dark green leaves form a beautiful creeping mound. In autumn, the foliage takes on reddish hues, adding seasonal interest to the garden

Learn more about Hardy Geraniums and how to garden with them:

- FR: Comment jardiner avec les Becs de Grue
- ENG:

💦 High drought tolerance once established
☀️ Sun-loving
👍 Low-maintenance
🌸 Long flowering period
💪 Self-supporting, compact habit

€5,90

Size: 9x9cm

Flowering	May, June, July, September
Exposure	Full Sun, Half Sun/Half Shade
Frost Tolerance	-15°C to -20°C
Size	0.3m H x 0.5m W
Soil	Any, Dry, Rocky/Well-Draining
Origin	Europe, Turkey

Gardening Tips:

In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can help protect your plant from scorching.
Although drought-tolerant once established, regular watering during prolonged dry periods is beneficial to any plant - water in the evening when they can really appreciate it.
This geranium is particularly low-maintenance and highly adaptable, thriving in a wide range of conditions.

The Botany:

A Note on the Difference between Geraniums and Pelargoniums

These are confused all the time. What you know to be Geraniums are probably Pelargoniums. And it has been a fascinating journey out of the darkness for me!

The physical distinction can be hard to spot as the details are in the number of petals.

Geraniums

Flowers have five similar petals
Considered perennials that come back year after year.
Bloom, Dormancy, Bloom, Dormancy > and Repeat.
To ease confusion, they are sometimes called 'Hardy Geraniums'.

Pelargonium

Flowers have two upper petals which are different from the three lower petals
Annuals (can be semi hardy in some climates but in general are sold for one seasons use)
Bloom, The End.
To ease confusion, they are sometimes called 'Tender Geraniums'.

Floral Morphology:

The flowers of Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth are solitary or in loose clusters, 2–4 cm across, with five softly colored petals, ranging from pale pink to lavender with subtle veining.

Sepals are persistent, and the stamens are arranged around a single pistil, forming the signature crane-beak fruit after flowering.

Leaves are palmately lobed, finely cut, and medium green, often providing a striking contrast with the bright magenta flowers.

When handled, the foliage emits a mild herbal scent, adding tactile and aromatic interest to the garden.

Reproductive Biology

Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth is hermaphroditic, capable of both self-pollination and cross-pollination, though insects such as bees and hoverflies are the primary pollinators.

Flowers bloom from late spring into early summer, and deadheading can extend the flowering period slightly.

Fruits are schizocarps that split into five segments, each containing a seed adapted for ballistic dispersal.

The combination of bright flowers and attractive foliage makes Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth ecologically valuable, supporting pollinators and adding color and structure to perennial plantings.

Ecology & Adaptations

Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth thrives in temperate and Mediterranean-style gardens, particularly in:

Borders and rockeries
Pollinator-friendly beds
Sunny, well-drained sites

The Myths:

The genus name Geranium comes from the Greek geranos, meaning “crane,” referring to the fruit’s crane-like beak.

The cultivar likely came from a selection or breeding (or possibly a chance discovery) - mayeb from Switzerland. Many clues and research papers point to a name 'Simon', suggesting that Hans Simon may be at the center of this story.

But this still needs to be confirmed!