Plants: Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Karmina' - cranesbill

Cranesbill is a genus comprising of about 300 species. It is commonly used as a ground-covering perennial which can quickly form a respectable carpet. When if full bloom it offers a solid, one-colour show which in mass plantings looks stunning. Thanks to low growth it mostly finds its place under trees and shrubs, as well as in mixed borders along with other perennials.

Karmina is a cranesbill with 5-petalled, lilac-pink flowers. They appear from late spring until early summer on erect stems, elevated approximately 15-20 cm above the foliage level. Basal leaves are evergreen, widely palmate, distinctively lobed, and have prominent veins and rounded tips. They are mid green in spring and summer, turning brilliant purple red in autumn and winter.

Karmina spreads by runners, not fast but reliably. Even though it is evergreen, removing old leaves in early spring will encourage new growths of fresh and healthy foliage. Also, cutting the plant back after the main flowering in early summer will bring the same effect of newly emerged carpet of beautiful leaves until the end of the season. Cranesbills will grow in most, moderately fertile, garden soil types in full sun or partial shade. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Size/type: low or groundcovering
Usual height: 0.2-0.3m
Usual width: 0.3-0.6m
Leaves: evergreen broadleaf
Colour of leaves: green
Flowers: showy
Colour of flowers: lilac
Blooming time: june - july
Location: full to partial sun
Usda zone (lowest): 5 (down to -29°c)
Belongs to categories: perennial