The Blood-Geranium (Geranium sanguineum) is a hardy perennial valued for its adaptability and vibrant color, making it an excellent choice for container gardening. It is often called Bloody Cranesbill due to its deep pink to magenta flowers and the reddish hue its foliage takes on in autumn. As a true geranium, it exhibits a compact, low-mounding, and clumping habit. This natural tendency to remain contained ensures it thrives when grown in pots on patios or balconies.
Selecting the Container and Potting Medium
Choosing the right container requires excellent drainage, as this plant is intolerant of wet roots. Any material, such as terracotta, plastic, or ceramic, is suitable, provided the pot has ample drainage holes at the base. Select a container approximately 10 inches in diameter to allow the perennial root system sufficient room to establish.
The potting medium must be leaner and faster-draining than a typical commercial mix. Geranium sanguineum prefers average, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. To achieve quick drainage, amend a standard potting mix with inorganic materials. Incorporating one part coarse grit, perlite, or horticultural sand for every two parts of potting soil creates the gritty texture that prevents waterlogging.
Routine Care Requirements (Light, Water, and Feeding)
The Blood-Geranium performs best in a location that provides full sun to partial shade. Positioning the pot to receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily encourages the most prolific flowering. In regions with intense summer heat, afternoon shade is helpful to prevent the foliage from scorching.
Watering should be managed carefully, as this plant is naturally drought-tolerant and prone to root rot if overwatered. Allow the top two to four inches of the soil to dry out completely before watering thoroughly. Ensure the excess drains freely from the pot’s base, and avoid letting the container sit in standing water.
This species is a light feeder; excessive fertilizer encourages leafy growth at the expense of blooms. A single, light application of a balanced, slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring is often sufficient for the entire season. Alternatively, apply a highly diluted liquid feed, such as a 5-10-5 formulation, once every four to six weeks during the peak flowering period.
Long-Term Maintenance and Overwintering
Consistent deadheading throughout the season is recommended to encourage continuous blooming and maintain a tidy appearance. Removing spent flower stems at their base prevents the plant from diverting energy into seed production, prompting new buds. After the main flush of summer flowering subsides, the foliage may look tired or sprawl outward.
At this point, perform a rejuvenation cutback, shearing the entire plant down to approximately two to three inches above the soil line. This action stimulates a fresh crop of compact foliage that remains attractive for the rest of the season and may even result in a sporadic second wave of flowers. This perennial is winter hardy in garden zones 3 through 9, but the confined root system requires protection in colder climates.
To overwinter a potted Blood-Geranium, move the container to an unheated, frost-free location before the first hard freeze. An ideal spot is an unheated garage, cool basement, or shed where temperatures remain consistently between 45°F and 50°F. During this dormant period, significantly reduce watering, providing just enough moisture only when the soil is completely dry to the touch.