Geranium, Cranesbill 'Tiny Monster'

Other Names: Hardy Geranium

Description:

This mounded perennial is drenched in saucer shaped violet-purple flowers with dark-purple veins; deadhead spent flowers for reblooming later in the season; foliage takes on scarlet tinges in fall

Ornamental Features

Tiny Monster Cranesbill has masses of beautiful violet flowers with purple veins at the ends of the stems from mid spring to mid summer, which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its deeply cut lobed palmate leaves are grayish green in color. As an added bonus, the foliage turns a gorgeous red in the fall. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.

Landscape Attributes

Tiny Monster Cranesbill is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Tiny Monster Cranesbill is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Tiny Monster Cranesbill will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 18 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist locations, and should do just fine under typical garden conditions. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Tiny Monster Cranesbill is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden. Be aware that in our climate, most plants cannot be expected to survive the winter if left in containers outdoors, and this plant is no exception. Contact our store for more information on how to protect it over the winter months.