Photo: Ramin Nakisa at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Perennial
Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum): when and how to prune
Geranium × magnificum
Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum) is best pruned in March and July.
| Pruning months | March and July |
|---|---|
| Flowering | June–July |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum): when to prune it?
Straight after flowering, usually in July. In March, remove the old, withered leaves.
Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum): how to prune it?
- After flowering, cut all stems and leaves back to 5–10 cm above the ground.
- Then water and give a little compost: within a few weeks a fresh mound of leaves appears.
- A small second flush sometimes follows in August.
- In March, clear last year’s dead leaves before the new shoots appear.
How much to cut, and how often?
- There are 2 pruning periods a year: March and July. You don’t have to prune in every one.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum) flowers in June–July, when it attracts bees.
- If pruning falls during flowering, wait until it is over or leave part of the plant to flower, so bees and butterflies still benefit.
Caution: If you do not cut it back, the clump stays untidy and splayed open for the rest of the summer.
Nearby: related pruning guides
- Armenian cranesbill
- Bigroot cranesbill
- Bloody cranesbill
- Cambridge cranesbill (Geranium × cantabrigiense)
- Druce’s cranesbill (Geranium × oxonianum)
- Dusky cranesbill
Plant profile: Purple cranesbill (Geranium × magnificum) · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.