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erodium geranium

berardeberarde Posts: 140
I've been looking for more geraniums (such an easy plant, diferent colours, different habits few pests) and come across erodiums. I can't see much difference so if someone could compare and contrast, that would be good

Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,104
    The main obvious difference is the length of the seed pods. Erodiums are called Heron's Bill because the seed pods are that much longer than the Geranium, Cranesbill.
  • The real difference that I found was that they really didn’t like the combination of cold and wet and need winter protection. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 7,889
    edited September 2019
    I would say that 90% (plus) of the hardy geraniums I’ve planted have lived and gone on to live long and happy lives as well as producing baby geraniums via division / seeding etc.

    90% of the erodiums I’ve planted have not made it through their first winter - probably for the reasons suggested by @Dovefromabove. I think they need quite sharply drained soil as a minimum.

    Nice plants - they deserve a little more TLC from me
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,104
    Well I still have all the Erodiums we have ever bought, except E. manescavi which I neglected to propagate before we moved. They have survived for a fair number of years. They do need good drainage and full sun.
    Propagation is different to Geraniums too. Apart from seed, they do well from cuttings taken in Spring of the new growth rather than later in the season.
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