Japanese cranesbill
Geranium soboliferum (Japanese cranesbill) is a type of Geranium that has bright pink flowers with deeply grooved leaves.
Creeping along the ground, the leaves of this plant turn a deep red in the fall which lasts through the winter. It starts to flower at the end of the summer and continues throughout the fall. The flowers are 3.8 cm (1.5 inches) wide with linear red streaks and a tinge of white.
This plant is slightly larger than other varieties of Geranium as it can grow up to 60 cm (24 inches) tall and 91 cm (36 inches) wide. It prefers moist but well-drained soil and is hardy to zones 4 to 8.
Geranium soboliferum is native to the Japanese mountains and was recently brought to the US for cultivation. It grows in sun to part shade. In the home garden, this plant does well in designs with Campanula and daylilies in rock gardens, borders, and larger plantings.
| Botanical Name | Geranium soboliferum |
| Common Name | Japanese cranesbill |
| Family | Geraniaceae |
| USDA Zone | 5 thru 10 |
| Light Requirement | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Season(s) of interest | summer, fall, winter |
| Height and Spread | 1ft x 1-2ft (30cm x 30-60cm) |
| Flower Color | Purple |
| Attracts Wildlife | Attracts Pollinators, Rarely Browsed by Mammalian Herbivores |
| Additional Information | Not Native to the US Midwest. Native range: Russia, Manchuria, Japan |
| Location in Lurie Garden | Northeast Light Plate, Northwest Light Plate, Southeast Light Plate, Southwest Light Plate |
Average Flowering Time
