It’s easy to grow your own flowers from seed. Here’s beautiful flowers, growing information & seed collections for gifts.
COUNTRY GARDEN SEED SHOP
Geranium pratense
Geranium pratense, the Meadow Cranesbill has the most gorgeous soft blue flowers in abundance all summer long. Each flower has 5 petals in the most perfect shade of violet-blue and Geranium foliage is attractive too with deeply divided leaves. They are lovely in wildflower meadows and also grow really well in more traditional garden beds and borders where they scramble and mingle amongst herbaceous plants. They love sun and dappled shade.
Geranium pratense are brilliant plants for your garden because they grow beautifully with other wildflowers and more traditional border perennials such as Lychnis coronaria and Achillea. They are super productive giving you an excellent show in the garden or meadow and masses of flowers. What's more they are perennial. Cut the foliage back after the first flush of summer flowers and they'll grow again to flower later in the season and go on doing that year after year. Awarded the Perfect for Pollinators badge by the RHS.
| Genus | Geranium pratense |
| Common name | Meadow Cranesbill |
| Plant Type | Hardy Perennial. Wild Flower. |
| Height & Spread | 60-90cm tall x 60 cm wide (2-3 feet tall x 2 feet) |
| Sow Seeds | Sow indoors in late winter from February to April or in autumn from August to September. Germinates at 10-13°C. Patience is required as Geraniums take from 30 to 90 days. Please note that seeds need a period of cold stratification to germinate best. Allow seedlings to grow until well established then pot on. |
| Plant Out | Plant out after the last frosts from May onwards. Once plants are established they are hardy all year round to minus 20°C. |
| Conditions Required | Geranium pratense will grow in most soils but prefers well drained soil... they will not tolerate waterlogging. They prefer a sunny or partly shaded spot. Lovely for meadows and will also grow in garden borders with other more traditional border perennials. |
| Flower Production | Masses of blooms produced from June to September. |
| Maintenance | Mow over meadows or cut back clumps of Geraniums in borders after flowering to encourage new foliage growth and a second flush of flowers. Divide and replant mature plants in spring. |
| Planting Combinations | Geranium pratense is one of the most beautiful perennial wild flowers that you can grow. Masses of flowers are produced over summer. They make a great show on their own and are particularly lovely with other meadow wildflowers such as Knautia arvensis, Leucanthemum vulgare and grasses such as Briza media and Briza maxima. |