Family: Geraniaceae
Common name: Himalayan Crane’s-bill, Himalayan Geranium, Lilac Cranesbill, Himalayan Cranesbill
Himalayan Cranesbill is a beautiful, clump-forming flowering plant that is ideal for flower beds in home gardens or parks. They are durable, living for many years producing light purple or lavender flowers in abundance.
As they name suggests, these plants originated from the Himalayas, but they are now grown in gardens all over the world in temperate weather.
Plant Characteristics
Himalayan Cranesbill plants can grow to a height of 50-60 cm with sprawling, green stems and deeply lobed leaves with serrated edges.
They form lush green mounds during spring and burst into flowers in summer, flowering for a long duration. Leaves are 12-15 cm in diameter, rounded in shaped with 5-6 lobes.
Deep blue or violet colored flowers are 4-5 cm in diameter with distinct petals that are white towards the center and deeper in color towards the tip. The flowers also have red veins radiating from the center towards the outer tip.
Flowers of Himalayan Cranesbill appear in large numbers covering the entire plant with blooms that look beautiful in contrast to the dark green leaves. Stamens and style are clearly visible in dark color against the white or pale colored center.
Himalayan Cranesbill plants attract butterflies in large numbers to the garden, thus making them a good choice for butterfly parks or agricultural land.
Once pollinated, the flowers produce small beak-like capsules that give the plant its name Cranesbill. When these seed capsules mature, it splits open to release the seeds.
Gardening Tips
Geraniums are generally easy to grow and fuss-free. They need full or partial sun, and cannot survive in the shade or indoors. Himalayan Cranesbill plants need well-drained soil, regular watering and fertilization when they are young.
Once the plants are established in the soil, they need very little care and attention. Prune them once after flowering to encourage more flowers and a well-rounded growth habit.
They are resistant to pests and diseases, growing well during all seasons. The bushy plant with deep green leaves make them attractive even when the plant is not flowering.
When grown in flower pots, Himalayan Cranesbill plants can grow and fill the pots quickly leading to over-crowding. It is good to repot and split the plants by dividing them carefully at the roots, without damaging the roots.
Himalayan Cranesbills plants are mostly grown as ornamentals or as butterfly lures, filling gardens with color and life. The name Geranium comes from the Greek word ‘geranos’ which means crane, referring to the shape of the seed capsule that looks like a Crane’s beak.
Propagation
Propagation is through seeds, stem cuttings, and root division, all these them very effective. Root division is one of the easiest to do, since Himalayan Cranesbill plants form great, big clumps with their spreading roots.
Photographed at: Toronto, Canada and KEW gardens, London
