Wood cranesbill

Wood cranesbill: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Upright clump about 60 cm tall and 45 cm wide; the flower stems branch near the top.

Leaves

Hand-shaped and deeply cut into seven toothed lobes, fresh green; mainly at the base of the plant.

Flower

Upward-facing, 2.5–3 cm across, violet-blue to purple with a white centre, in loose clusters from May to July.

Fruit

A beak-shaped fruit that flings out its seeds; it self-seeds moderately.

Roots

A short, sturdy rootstock: the clump widens slowly but does not run.

Flowering: May–July · Plants: March–April and September–October · Pruning: March and July

Why grow it?

• One of the earliest cranesbills: it flowers from May, when the border is only just getting going.
• Native and valuable for bees, bumblebees and hoverflies.
• Thrives in light shade under trees or at a woodland edge, where many flowering plants struggle.
• A loose, natural look: ideal in a wildlife garden or a flowery border.
• It does not spread by runners and stays neatly in place.
• After cutting back it produces fresh leaves well into autumn.

Wood cranesbill: where does it grow best?

• Sun or light partial shade; in full sun only if the soil stays cool and moist.
• Humus-rich loam or clay, slightly acid, neutral or chalky.
• Moderately moist: not too dry in summer and well drained in winter.
• Lovely at a woodland edge, under trees with a light canopy or in a natural border.
• Allow 40–45 cm between plants.

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.6 m tall, 0.45 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -40 °C)

Goes well with

• Columbine: Flowers at the same time, in May–June, and likes the same light shade.
• Masterwort: Loose white or pink flower heads for a natural border.
• Foxglove: Tall spikes above the blue cranesbill at a woodland edge.
• Ferns: Fine green foliage in cool partial shade.

Wood cranesbill: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April and September–October.

1. Plant in March–April or September–October, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Loosen the soil and work in leaf mould or well-rotted compost to keep it humus-rich and cool.
3. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot and firm the soil well.
4. Space plants 40–45 cm apart; it looks best in a group of 3–5.
5. Water well straight away, even if it is raining.
6. Mulch with leaf mould to keep the soil cool and moist.

Care

Watering

Water during dry spells, especially in the first year and in sunny spots: it dislikes drying out.

Feeding

A layer of compost in March is enough; no extra fertiliser is needed.

Mulching

Leaf mould in spring keeps the soil cool and rich in humus, as in a woodland.

Cutting back

After flowering, in July, cut back the flower stems and old leaves for a fresh clump.

Seedlings

It self-seeds a little; leave the seedlings or move them in spring.

Tip: Give it a cool spot with humus-rich soil and a layer of leaf mould every spring: the leaves stay fresh and it flowers freely, even in light shade.

Wood cranesbill: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March and July.

When: After flowering, in July, cut the clump back. In March, remove the old, dead leaves.

How:

• Cut the spent stems and old leaves back to just above the young leaves at the base.
• If you want seedlings, leave a few flower stems until the seeds have been flung out.
• Water after cutting back: a new, fresh clump of leaves soon appears.
• In March, clear the dead leaves before the new shoots emerge.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In March–April or September: split the clump with a spade or two garden forks and replant each piece with roots and buds straight away.

Seed

Sow fresh seed in autumn in pots and stand them outside in a sheltered spot; winter cold often helps germination in spring. Named forms do not always come true from seed.

Wood cranesbill: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −40 °C.

• Very hardy, to about −40 °C: no protection is needed in Belgium.
• The leaves die back in autumn; new shoots appear in early spring.
• Leave the dead leaves until March to shelter insects and act as a natural mulch.

Diseases and pests

• Powdery mildew: White powder on the leaves, especially in dry weather. Water, mulch and cut off affected leaves.
• Slugs: They eat the young shoots in spring. Pick them off in the evening or lay down a board for them to hide under.
• Scorched leaves: Brown leaf edges in a hot, dry spot. Water and mulch, or move it to light shade.
• Untidy clump: After flowering the plant falls open. Cut back the flower stems and old leaves: fresh foliage soon follows.

Through the year

• March: Remove old leaves. Plant or divide. Add leaf mould.
• April: Plant. Watch for slugs on the young shoots.
• May: Flowering begins.
• June: Full flower. Water in dry spells.
• July: Last flowers. Cut back after flowering and water.
• August: Water in dry spells. Collect seed.
• September: Plant or divide.
• October: Plant. Sow fresh seed in pots.
• November: Leave the dead leaves in place.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• In northern England and Scandinavia it is a characteristic plant of flower-rich hay meadows in the hills and mountains.
• Besides violet-blue plants, pink and white forms also occur in the wild.
• As in all cranesbills, the ripe fruit suddenly curls up and flings the seeds away from the plant.