Tuberous Crane's Bill

Geranium tuberosum is a charming but often underutilised perennial that forms small, knobbly tubers. It is native to the Mediterranean but is perfectly at home in UK gardens. It produces mounds of deeply divided, feathery green leaves that appear in early spring. These are followed in May and June by clusters of delicate, five-petalled flowers in a soft violet-purple with darker veining. It grows to about 30cm in height. This plant is a 'spring ephemeral', meaning that shortly after flowering in early summer, the entire plant goes dormant and the foliage dies back, only to reappear the following spring. It is fully hardy (H5) and thrives in a sunny or partially shaded position in well-drained soil. It is an excellent plant for naturalising under shrubs or in a rock garden where it can be left undisturbed. In the UK, it is valued for filling the 'May gap' with its abundance of flowers before the main summer perennials take over. it is very drought-tolerant once established.

Sun: Full sun to partial shade.

Soil: Well-drained, neutral to alkaline soil.

Hardiness: H5 — down to −15°C.

Flowering: May, Jun.