Geranium sanguineum 'Vision Light Pink'

A beautiful, robust ground cover variety of the every popular Geranium sanguineum; ‘Vision Light Pink’ produces masses of large luminescent light pink flowers with red veins from early spring through to late summer. The blooms cover this compact, mounding plant with intricately cut leaves.

This long-lived, drought-tolerant perennial is best sited in full sun or partial shade. It is hardy to minus 17°C (0°F) and does best in fertile soil with good drainage although most soils in sun or shade are tolerated. The attractive cut leaves have fresh green foliage that redden with autumn colours in autumn.

Vision Light Pink is useful as a small scale groundcover and in mixed borders. Basically pest-free, use it in rock gardens, stone walls or even in container plantings. It gives a soft edge to brick walks and can be cut back at any time for a fresh flush of handsome foliage.

Sowing: Sow in late winter/late spring or in late summer/autumn.
Fill pots, cells of trays with a good seed starting compost. (John Innes or similar). Sit the containers in water to moisten thoroughly. Sow the seeds 2.5cm (1in) apart, on the surface of the compost and cover seed with vermiculite, sand or sieved compost after sowing. Keep soil slightly moist but not wet. Perennial geraniums often germinate over several months, usually between 30 to 90 days at temperatures around 5 to 10°C (41 to 50°F). Seed trays should not be discarded prematurely. Constant moisture must be maintained. Do not leave in direct sunlight.
Transplant the seedlings into 7.5cm (3in) pots to grow on. Avoid large pots, because the compost will be wet permanently and wetness can a cause growth inhibition and a poor root development.
Overwinter autumn sown seedlings indoors frost free at 3 to 5 °C (37 to 41°F). If outdoors use an outdoor fleece cover to protect the plants.
Plant outdoors in spring after the last expected frosts. Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10 to 15 days before planting out into their permanent positions. Space 30 to 40cm (12 to 15in) apart.

Cultivation:
In mid summer after flowering rejuvenate plants that are beginning to look jaded by shearing it back, this will promote dense growth and encourage better reblooming. Lift and divide large colonies in spring, March to May
Low-moderate fertilisation levels are required use a complete balanced fertiliser. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. Very high nitrogen levels will cause shoot stretching and then the shoots fall apart. Don't fertilise after mid September.
The roots are sensitive to wet substrates which can cause rotting of roots and poor plant quality. Allow for the plants to dry thoroughly between irrigations.

Plant Uses:
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flowers Borders and Beds, Wildlife / Butterfly Garden. Beekeeping.
Full sun to partial shady locations. Rock gardens, stone walls, perennial borders, ground cover, large containers
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Origin:
Geranium sanguineum, is native to much of Europe and south west Asia. In its native habitat it is found in deciduous forests, woodland margins and arid grasslands. It is the county flower of Northumberland, UK

Nomenclature:
The name Geranium comes from the Greek 'geranion', which is a diminutive of 'geranos' meaning crane.
The species name “sanguineum” refers to the red leaves in autumn
It is commonly known as the Bloody Canesbill, Blood-red Cranesbill or Bloody Geranium,
It gets the name 'crane’s bill' from the 'beak' over the seed pod and is also called storksbill in some areas.
The name 'crowfoot' is because the leaves resemble buttercups, which used to be called crowfoots.