Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Hedgerow Cranesbill bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Hedgerow Cranesbill, Mountain Cranesbill, Pyrenean Cranesbill (Geranium pyrenaicum).
More about hedgerow cranesbill
About Hedgerow Cranesbill
Geranium pyrenaicum · also called Hedgerow Cranesbill, Mountain Cranesbill · flowering
Geranium pyrenaicum is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen herbaceous perennial native to southern Europe and western Asia, now widely naturalised in the UK and northern Europe along roadsides, hedgerows, meadows and open woodland edges. Unlike most of the annual cranesbills in this group, it returns reliably year after year and self-seeds freely around the parent plant, producing a long succession of small purplish-pink flowers from late spring through to early autumn. It is undemanding, tolerating a wide range of soils in full sun to partial shade. True cranesbill Geranium species are not listed as toxic to pets by the ASPCA, and this species is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Prolific self-seeding: As a vigorous perennial, G. pyrenaicum can seed itself several metres from the parent plant over a few seasons. Deadhead after each flowering flush to limit spread, or allow seeding if naturalising into a wildflower meadow.
The reasons hedgerow cranesbill isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming hedgerow 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 hedgerow 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 hedgerow cranesbill to flower
- Maximise sun. Give hedgerow 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 hedgerow cranesbill and get the feeding right with the hedgerow 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
Hedgerow 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 hedgerow cranesbill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Hedgerow Cranesbill blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my hedgerow cranesbill flower?
Hedgerow 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 hedgerow cranesbill bloom?
Give hedgerow 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 hedgerow cranesbill normally bloom?
Hedgerow Cranesbill flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with hedgerow cranesbill after it flowers?
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.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping hedgerow cranesbill flowering?
Feeding hedgerow cranesbill a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Hedgerow Cranesbill care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Hedgerow Cranesbill light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Hedgerow Cranesbill fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library