Cold hardiness & minimum temperature

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

Also called Dilys Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium 'Dilys'.

More about dilys cranesbill

About Dilys Cranesbill

Geranium 'Dilys' · also called Dilys Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium 'Dilys' · flowering

Geranium 'Dilys' is a low-growing, spreading cranesbill hybrid (G. sanguineum × G. procurrens), introduced by Axle Tree Nursery, bearing single deep reddish-purple flowers with darker veins from midsummer through to autumn — one of the longest-blooming hardy geraniums available. It spreads as a weed-suppressing ground cover to about 50 cm and tolerates partial shade, poor drainage, and dry spells better than most cranesbills. The single most important care point is removing spent stems to keep the plant tidy and encourage continuous flowering. True cranesbill Geranium species are not listed as toxic by the ASPCA, which reserves that classification for Pelargonium, and are widely considered pet-safe.

Cold limit: USDA 4-8 · RHS H7 (-35 to 28°C)

What dilys cranesbill's hardiness rating actually means

Yes — dilys cranesbill is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 4-8, 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 4-8 — 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. Dilys Cranesbill is built for winter — once established it takes hard frost and snow in its stride.

Concretely, for dilys 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 dilys cranesbill go outside or overwinter — and where?

Plant it out within USDA 4-8 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 dilys cranesbill can be outside. US growers can check USDA zones; UK growers should use the RHS hardiness ratings, which match the H7 figure above.

Dilys Cranesbill hardiness — frequently asked questions

Is dilys cranesbill cold hardy?

Yes — dilys cranesbill is genuinely cold hardy. Rated RHS H7 and USDA 4-8, it lives outdoors all year and needs winter cold rather than protection from it. An outdoor plant. Dilys Cranesbill is hardy across USDA 4-8; 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 dilys cranesbill can survive?

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

What hardiness zone is dilys cranesbill?

Dilys Cranesbill is rated USDA 4-8 and RHS H7 — Hardy in the severest European continental winters.

Can dilys cranesbill survive winter outside?

Plant it out within USDA 4-8 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 dilys 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.