Alpine Geranium (Crane’s-Bill, Heron’s-Bill, Sea Holly)
Erodium reichardii (formerly Erodium chamaedryoides). GERANIACEAE.
Planting and Growing Alpine Geranium
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow alpine geranium in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of alpine geranium
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for alpine geranium
- Season of bloom and planting time for alpine geranium
- When, how deep, and where to plant alpine geranium
- How to plant alpine geranium
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of alpine geranium
- Landscape and container uses of alpine geranium
- Comments about alpine geranium and its features
Growing Alpine Geranium
Several cultivars of low, spreading or trailing, deciduous perennial herbs, to 4 in. (10 cm) tall. Shiny, textured, deep green, oval, pointed, wavy-edged leaves, 3/8-in. (9-mm) long.
Erodium reichardii ‘Album’ is the most commonly cultivated alpine geranium cultivar.
Sea Holly, Eryngium species, shares the common name of sea holly with alpine geranium, but is an unrelated plant species.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many pink, white, yellow, simple, round-petaled flowers, 1/2-in. (12-mm) wide, with contrasting-veined petals, in spring–autumn.
Best Climates
Semi-hardy. Self-seeding. Zones 7–9.
Soil Type and Fertility
Damp to dry, well-drained, sandy soil. Fertility: Average–low. 6.5–8.0 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun to partial shade, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep moist until established; drought tolerant thereafter. Fertilize annually in spring. Shear in autumn to renew growth. Propagate by division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for borders, edgings, ground covers in natural, rock, seaside gardens. Invasive in mild climates. Pest and disease resistant.