Plant guide

meadow cranesbill.

Geranium pratense

Pronounced jeh-RAY-nee-um pra-TEN-see

Also known as Meadow Crane's-bill, Meadow geranium

The meadow cranesbill is a lovely perennial that brings a touch of the wild to your garden. It produces beautiful blue to violet cup shaped flowers that look great in borders. You will find it is quite hardy and enjoys a spot with plenty of space to spread.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 2 to 3 feet
Growth rate: Medium

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy to help this plant thrive. Watch for yellowing leaves which can indicate that the soil is staying too wet for too long. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage a second flush of blooms later in the season.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Cut back foliage after flowering to tidy the plant and promote new growth.
Repotting: Divide the clumps every few years to maintain plant vigor.
Soil: Moist, well drained soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline

Safety

Pets: This plant is generally considered non toxic to cats and dogs.

How to identify it

Deeply divided palmate leaves
Five petaled blue violet flowers
Distinctive long beak shaped seed pods
Clumping habit with hairy stems

Science

Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Geranium
Order: Geraniales
Class: Magnoliopsida

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Is your meadow cranesbill looking unwell?

This page is a general guide. Pocket Botanist diagnoses problems from a photo of your actual plant, works out watering for your light and conditions, and reminds you when care is due.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.