Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Druce's Cranesbill bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Druce's cranesbill, Oxford cranesbill, hybrid cranesbill (Geranium × oxonianum).

More about druce's cranesbill

About Druce's Cranesbill

Geranium × oxonianum · also called Druce's cranesbill, Oxford cranesbill · flowering

Geranium × oxonianum is a vigorous hybrid cranesbill (G. endressii × G. versicolor) that arose naturally near Oxford and was first described by G.C. Druce, hence the common name. It forms spreading, semi-evergreen mounds and produces an extremely long succession of funnel-shaped pink flowers — typically deeper pink than G. endressii, with darker veining inherited from G. versicolor — from late spring right through autumn. Its vigour, ground-covering ability, and tolerance of sun or shade make it one of the most useful border perennials available. Considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Powdery mildew in late summer: Very common on G. × oxonianum cultivars; shear the whole plant back to 10-15 cm after the main summer flush to remove mildewed foliage and stimulate a clean flush of new leaves and autumn flowers.

The reasons druce's cranesbill isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming druce's cranesbill traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding druce's cranesbill a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get druce's cranesbill to flower

Maximise sun. Give druce's cranesbill the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for druce's cranesbill and get the feeding right with the druce's cranesbill fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Druce's Cranesbill flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full druce's cranesbill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Druce's Cranesbill blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my druce's cranesbill flower?

Druce's Cranesbill blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make druce's cranesbill bloom?

Give druce's cranesbill the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does druce's cranesbill normally bloom?