Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' (Buxton's Variety cranesbill) care

Light

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' is what florists mean by "bright spot, no direct sun" — close enough to a south or east window to feel the brightness, with a sheer curtain or a few feet of distance keeping the sun off the leaves. Best in full sun to partial shade. Good light intensifies the blue flower colour and prolongs the long late display; in hot climates a little afternoon shade prevents scorch on the trailing stems. A phone lux-meter at the leaf surface should read 1,500-3,000 lux at noon.

Watering

Water geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' water during establishment, then keep just-moist through summer; little needed in winter dormancy. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Prefers consistent moisture in its main growing season more than the drought-hardy macrorrhizum types, but resents waterlogging. Keep soil from drying out completely while flowering; it dies back fully in winter.

Soil and pot

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' grows best in fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Grows on chalk, clay, loam, and sand across a wide pH range and tolerates most conditions provided drainage is good. Enrich with organic matter at planting; it dislikes both waterlogging and prolonged drought. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' sits happiest at around 40-70% humidity and -10 to 27°C (14 to 80°F). A hardy outdoor perennial unaffected by ambient humidity. Open garden airflow keeps the trailing foliage dry and reduces mildew risk; no humidity management is needed. If you keep the room above year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' sparingly. Light to moderate feeder. A spring compost mulch plus an optional balanced feed as growth resumes supports the long flowering season. Avoid excess nitrogen, which produces lush stems and fewer flowers. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Late spring emergence — It breaks dormancy late and can look absent in spring, risking accidental disturbance or being deemed dead. Mark its position and be patient; growth and flowering come in summer.
• Powdery mildew — Trailing stems in dry, crowded conditions develop white mildew. Improve airflow, water at the base, and remove affected stems to keep the late display clean.
• Stem sprawl and self-seeding — Long lax stems flop and the plant self-sows, with seedlings often reverting to less distinct blue. Trim wandering stems and propagate by division or cuttings to keep the true form.
• Slugs and snails — The late, soft new shoots are grazed in damp weather. Protect emerging growth with barriers or wildlife-safe controls.

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring as growth resumes, or by basal stem cuttings in late spring. Seed-raised plants are variable and often inferior, so to keep 'Buxton's Variety' true use division or cuttings rather than self-sown seedlings. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' is mildly toxic to pets. Hardy cranesbills (genus Geranium) are not individually listed on the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database. The ASPCA 'Geranium' toxic entry refers to Pelargonium (toxic principles geraniol and linalool), a different genus. Cranesbills are broadly regarded as non-toxic, but because this cultivar is not ASPCA-listed, treat with caution and verify with a vet before assuming it is pet-safe. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' watering schedule
• Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' light requirements
• Best soil mix for geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety'
• Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' fertilizing guide
• When to repot geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety'
• How to propagate geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety'
• Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' growth rate & size
• Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' cold hardiness
• Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' temperature & humidity
• Is geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' toxic to cats?
• Is geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' toxic to dogs?
• Getting geranium wallichianum 'buxton's variety' to bloom

Featured in these plant shortlists

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' qualifies for 5 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best plants for a north-facing window — Houseplants for a north-facing window: bright, even, indirect light and no scorching direct sun. Each pick verified against its documented light needs.
• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best trailing & climbing houseplants — Vining and trailing houseplants for shelves, hanging pots, and moss poles — selected by growth habit.
• Best flowering houseplants — Indoor plants grown for their blooms — selected from the flowering species in Growli’s plant-care library.
• Best houseplants for a cool room — Houseplants that tolerate cool conditions down to about 10°C — for an unheated spare room, hallway, porch or a home kept cool.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Geranium wallichianum 'Buxton's Variety' is also commonly called Buxton's Variety cranesbill or Buxton's Blue geranium.

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