Bloody cranesbill vs Hardy geranium hybrids

Bloody cranesbill and Hardy geranium hybrids are often considered for the same spot in the garden (ground cover, flowers, pollinator friendly, container). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Bloody cranesbill

Geranium sanguineum 30 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

A tough ground-covering perennial that forms a low mound of finely cut leaves, dotted with magenta-pink flowers from late spring into summer, and…

Perennial

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 8.80

Hardy geranium hybrids

Geranium × hybridum 50 cm × 70 cm after 10 years

This record covers the garden cranesbills sold by cultivar name: loose mounds of cut leaves with saucer-shaped blue, purple, pink or white flowers,…

Perennial

Full sun

Part shade

from about PLN 14

Key differences

Hardy geranium hybrids grows larger: 50 cm × 70 cm after ten years, against 30 cm × 60 cm for Bloody cranesbill (an estimate: sources differ).
Bloody cranesbill copes better with summer heat than Hardy geranium hybrids.
Bloody cranesbill tolerates drought better than Hardy geranium hybrids.
Bloody cranesbill also takes heavy clay, Hardy geranium hybrids needs a loose, free-draining soil (an estimate: sources differ).

Which one to choose?

Bloody cranesbill is the better choice if space is tight, the spot is hot and sunny, you cannot water regularly or the soil is heavy clay.

Watch out for

Bloody cranesbill

No serious pests or diseases. Leaf spot, rust or mildew occur occasionally, and vine weevil larvae may feed on the roots.

Hardy geranium hybrids

In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe the foliage can scorch in full sun and flowering stops, so afternoon shade and moisture-retentive soil make a real difference. Leaf spot, rust or powdery mildew may appear in humid weather; the summer cut-back usually deals with it. Meadow cranesbill cultivars self-seed freely, and the less hardy cultivars (for example the trailing, golden-leaved ones) may die out in a hard, wet winter.

The data side by side

Feature	Bloody cranesbill	Hardy geranium hybrids
Group	Perennial	Perennial
Size after 10 years	30 cm × 60 cm	50 cm × 70 cm (uncertain)
Ultimate size	20–50 cm × 30–60 cm	0.3–1 m × 0.3–1 m (uncertain)
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	no data
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous	Average garden soil (uncertain)
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous (uncertain)
Flowering	May–August, pink, purple	May–September, blue, purple, pink, white
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Low
Planting distance	35 cm	50 cm
For dogs	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	no data	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	approx. PLN 18	approx. PLN 19

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 17, 2026

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