Ballerina Cranesbill
Geranium cinereum 'Ballerina'
Dainty, pink flowers marked with purple veining above lacy, gray green foliage. An outstanding, long blooming addition to borders or rock gardens. Herbaceous perennial.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | jer-AE-nee-um sin-NEE-ree-um |
| Key feature: | Deer Resistant |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden style: | Cottage |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Herbaceous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 4 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Partial to full sun |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Spreading mound 6 to 8 in. tall, 12 to 15 in. wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Spreading |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Dwarf Plant, Easy Care, Fall Color |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Rock Garden, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | Pink |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Gray-green |
| Item no.: | 3824 |
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Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. As a groundcover, space plants 5 ft. apart, (closer for faster coverage). Control weeds with mulch until the plants cover the area.
Design Ideas
A perfect spreading plant that is ideal massed into large zones of color. With its mat-like habit, it's also great for nooks and crannies in stepping stones or flagstone paving without mortar. Will spill over walls into a green waterfall of seasonal color. A good plant in large pots containing patio trees. Surprisingly heat resistant and adaptive to dry western gardens.
Companion Plants
This little spreader won't compete with more upright perennials such as the purple-flowering East Friesland Meadow Sage (Salvia nemorosa 'East Friesland'), Fern Leaf Yarrow (Achillea x 'Moonshine') and particularly Fern-leaf Lavender (Lavandula multifida). For dramatic contrast use with Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) or pair this little pastel pink flower with the equally soft Elijah Blue Fescue (Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue').
History
This species like most of its kin is native to Europe, and in particular the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. It was classified at the end of the 18th century by Antonio Jose Cavanilles of the Univeristy of Madrid.
Lore
The genus was named from the Greek for the crane because the seed pod resembles the long beak of that bird.
Dainty, pink flowers marked with purple veining above lacy, gray green foliage. An outstanding, long blooming addition to borders or rock gardens. Herbaceous perennial.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. As a groundcover, space plants 5 ft. apart, (closer for faster coverage). Control weeds with mulch until the plants cover the area.
Design Ideas
A perfect spreading plant that is ideal massed into large zones of color. With its mat-like habit, it's also great for nooks and crannies in stepping stones or flagstone paving without mortar. Will spill over walls into a green waterfall of seasonal color. A good plant in large pots containing patio trees. Surprisingly heat resistant and adaptive to dry western gardens.
Companion Plants
This little spreader won't compete with more upright perennials such as the purple-flowering East Friesland Meadow Sage (Salvia nemorosa 'East Friesland'), Fern Leaf Yarrow (Achillea x 'Moonshine') and particularly Fern-leaf Lavender (Lavandula multifida). For dramatic contrast use with Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) or pair this little pastel pink flower with the equally soft Elijah Blue Fescue (Festuca cinerea 'Elijah Blue').
History
This species like most of its kin is native to Europe, and in particular the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. It was classified at the end of the 18th century by Antonio Jose Cavanilles of the Univeristy of Madrid.
Lore
The genus was named from the Greek for the crane because the seed pod resembles the long beak of that bird.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | jer-AE-nee-um sin-NEE-ree-um |
| Key feature: | Deer Resistant |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden style: | Cottage |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Herbaceous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 4 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Partial to full sun |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Spreading mound 6 to 8 in. tall, 12 to 15 in. wide. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Spreading |
| Special features: | Deer Resistant, Dwarf Plant, Easy Care, Fall Color |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Firescaping/Fire Wise, Rock Garden, Woodland Garden |
| Flower color: | Pink |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Gray-green |
| Item no.: | 3824 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is Flower & Rose Food.view soil products