Geranium Mayflower

Description

Geranium sylvaticum ‘Mayflower’ – wood cranesbill

Botanical name: Geranium sylvaticum ‘Mayflower’
Common names: Wood cranesbill
Family: Geraniaceae
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Habit: Upright, clump-forming
Pot size: 2–3 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 60–75cm tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Deeply divided, lobed green leaves; deciduous
Flowers: Rich violet-blue saucer-shaped flowers with a clear white eye, opening notably early, from late spring (May–July)
Scent: Not notably scented
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; moist but well-drained, fertile; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Sheltered or exposed; very tolerant
Native range: Garden form; hardy geraniums are native across Europe and Asia
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Geranium ‘Mayflower’ is a fine wood cranesbill with rich violet-blue, white-eyed flowers opening early in late spring. Elegant and easy, it is superb for cottage, woodland-edge and lightly shaded borders.

GardenAdvice notes

A lovely selection of our native wood cranesbill, ‘Mayflower’ bears rich violet-blue saucer-shaped flowers, each lit by a clear white eye, and — as its name suggests — opens notably early, from late spring, when it is especially welcome. Upright and elegant, happy in sun or light shade, it is a natural for cottage borders and woodland-edge plantings, and is much loved by bees.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in most soils soil in full sun to partial shade — hardy geraniums are among the easiest and most adaptable of all perennials. Space about 45cm apart. Water while establishing.

Care & maintenance

The single most useful thing you can do is give it a hard cut-back once the first flush of flowers fades — shear the whole plant right down to near ground level. It responds with a fresh mound of clean foliage and, usually, a second flush of flowers. Cut down old growth in late winter. Lift and divide congested clumps every few years in spring.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide established clumps in spring, as growth begins.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and healthy — hardy geraniums are among the most reliable of all perennials. Slugs may graze new growth, and powdery mildew or rust can occur in dry spells. Otherwise easy.

Uses in the garden

Superb in cottage, mixed, woodland-edge and lightly shaded borders and in naturalistic plantings, where its early violet-blue, white-eyed flowers bring welcome late-spring colour among other perennials.

Wildlife value

Hardy geraniums are excellent for pollinators: their open, saucer-shaped flowers are very attractive to bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects, often over a long season.

Toxicity & safety

Hardy geraniums are generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets. Note that they are quite different from pelargoniums (the tender bedding and pot ‘geraniums’), which are toxic to cats and dogs.

GardenAdvice tip

‘Mayflower’ is valuable simply for being early — rich violet-blue, white-eyed flowers opening in late spring when the border still needs colour. It’s a wood cranesbill, so it’s genuinely happy in light shade at a woodland edge. Shear it hard once the first flush is over, and it will come back with clean foliage and often a few more flowers.

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