Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

Is Ann Folkard Cranesbill (Geranium 'Ann Folkard')cold hardy? Hardiness zone & min temp

Also called Ann Folkard Cranesbill, Ann Folkard Geranium.

More about ann folkard cranesbill

About Ann Folkard Cranesbill

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' · also called Ann Folkard Cranesbill, Ann Folkard Geranium · flowering

Geranium 'Ann Folkard' is a hybrid of G. procurrens and G. psilostemon raised by Reverend O. G. Folkard, notable for its strikingly bright chartreuse-yellow young foliage that darkens to mid-green, and its exceptionally long season of large magenta-pink flowers with distinctive black veins and a black eye. The scrambling, trailing stems twine through neighbouring plants in a mixed border and spread up to 90–120 cm. The most important care fact is to give it enough space to scramble without smothering smaller neighbours. ASPCA's 'Geranium' toxic listing refers to Pelargonium; true cranesbills are not confirmed non-toxic by ASPCA, so treat with caution around pets.

Cold limit: USDA 5-9 · RHS H7 (-20°C to 28°C)

What ann folkard cranesbill's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — ann folkard cranesbill is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 5-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. Its RHS rating of H7 means: Hardy in the severest European continental winters. On the US scale that maps to USDA 5-9 — the zones where it can be left outdoors year-round.

New to these scales? The USDA hardiness zone map explained covers how the zone numbers work, and you can find your own zone with the zone finder.

Minimum temperature — and what happens below it

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Ann Folkard Cranesbill is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for ann folkard cranesbill as it gets too cold:

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established.
Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root.
First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.

Can ann folkard cranesbill go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 5-9 and it overwinters with little or no help.
It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy.
The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

Work back from your local frost dates with the frost-date calculator: the last spring frost and first autumn frost are what really decide when ann folkard cranesbill can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

Ann Folkard Cranesbill hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is ann folkard cranesbill cold hardy?

Yes — ann folkard cranesbill is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 5-9, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Ann Folkard Cranesbill is hardy across USDA 5-9; it belongs in the ground or a frost-proof container, not on a windowsill, and many types actively need a cold winter to perform.

What is the minimum temperature ann folkard cranesbill can survive?

Minimum survivable temperature is roughly below about −20 °C. Ann Folkard Cranesbill is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

What hardiness zone is ann folkard cranesbill?

Ann Folkard Cranesbill is rated USDA 5-9 and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can ann folkard cranesbill survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 5-9 and it overwinters with little or no help. It does not want to come indoors — a warm winter room actually weakens a hardy plant by denying it dormancy. The real risks in its range are waterlogging, wind-rock on young plants, and a late hard frost on new growth — not ordinary winter cold.

What happens to ann folkard cranesbill below its minimum temperature?

It tolerates winter lows to about −20 °C once established. Below its rated zone, the visible damage is browned or blackened top growth and, in the worst case, a killed crown or root. First-year, newly planted, or container-grown specimens are noticeably less hardy than established garden plants — the roots are exposed.