Cranesbill (Geranium 'Blogold' BLUE SUNRISE)

Overview

The Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE, commonly known as Cranesbill, is a highly valuable plant for gardeners seeking reliable color and unique foliage texture. This hybrid stands out with its large, saucer-shaped flowers in a stunning violet-blue hue that contrasts beautifully with its emerging chartreuse leaves. As an herbaceous perennial, it offers season-long interest with relatively little effort required from the gardener.

Valued for its spreading mound habit, Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE forms an attractive ground cover that readily colonizes garden spaces. It exhibits excellent garden stamina, handling full sun to partial shade conditions readily, making it adaptable to various locations within the landscape. Its deer and rabbit resistance adds functional value, ensuring its decorative blooms remain intact where other plants might be browsed.

Whether used in mass plantings, borders, or containers, this specific Cranesbill cultivar provides reliable color from late spring into summer, often reblooming lightly into the fall, especially when managed correctly. Enjoying the toughness typical of many hardy geraniums, Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE is a low-maintenance staple sure to enhance any temperate garden design.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Geraniaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-1.5 ft
  • Spread: 1-2 ft
• Bloom Time: May to June
• Bloom Description: Violet blue
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

Planting Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE is best done in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils. While they thrive in full sun, incorporating afternoon shade is beneficial, particularly in hotter climates like the St. Louis area, to maintain vigor through the summer heat. Ensure the soil harbors good organic matter, as these plants prefer consistently moist conditions, although established specimens do show some drought tolerance once fully settled.

Care for this Cranesbill is straightforward due to its low maintenance needs. Water regularly to maintain even moisture, especially during initial establishment or periods of intense summer heat. Fertilizing is rarely necessary; amending the soil with compost at planting time usually supplies all the required nutrients. If the primary bloom wanes in the heat of summer, cutting the plants back—a practice known as shearing—is highly recommended.

Shearing the plant rejuvenated the foliage and encourages a refreshing, lighter bloom cycle continuing into the late summer or early fall. In cooler northern regions, the bloom period is often more continuous throughout the summer season. Pruning can also be used throughout the growing season to trim or remove side stems if you need to control its spreading habit.

Landscape Uses

This versatile Cranesbill excels in numerous landscape roles, making it a favorite for designers looking for reliable texture and color near paths or edges. Use Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE massed together to create a vibrant ground cover effect, suppressing weeds while offering persistent floral display. It performs admirably in rock gardens, where its texture contrasts nicely with stone, and it is a quintessential addition to traditional cottage gardens.

For borders, plant Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE in the middle or front layer, allowing its low, spreading mound to soften hard edges. Its vibrant violet-blue flowers provide excellent contrast against silvery foliage or light-colored perennials. It also adapts well to containers, either as a spiller element or as a full, colorful mound taking center stage on a patio for the season.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy

Noteworthy Characteristics

The genus Geranium is comprised of approximately 300 species of annuals and herbaceous perennials primarily found in temperate areas, many of which are excellent garden subjects developed into numerous hybrids. The genus name originates from the Greek word geranos, meaning ‘crane,’ referencing the fruit structure resembling a crane’s head and beak. The hybrid Geranium ‘Blogold’, marketed as BLUE SUNRISE, is prized for its distinctive chartreuse foliage and violet-blue flowers. It forms a spreading mound, reaching about 18 inches tall and spreading over 24 inches wide, with large, saucer-shaped, violet-blue flowers blooming reliably in late spring.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer

Potential Problems

Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE is generally robust and does not suffer from serious insect or disease issues under proper cultural conditions. Gardeners should remain vigilant for occasional susceptibility to fungal issues such as leaf spots or rust, especially in areas with poor air circulation or overly damp conditions in the late season. Ensure excellent drainage and avoid overhead watering late in the day to minimize moisture retention on the foliage, which helps prevent the onset of these minor problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE suitable for?

This adaptable Cranesbill is hardy across USDA Zones 5 through 8.

How large does Cranesbill grow?

Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet and spreads nicely between 1 and 2 feet wide.

When does Cranesbill bloom?

This variety offers its primary show of violet-blue flowers from May to June, with potential sporadic rebloom continuing later in the season.

What sun exposure does Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE need?

It performs best when situated in full sun to partial shade locations in the garden.

Conclusion

The Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE stands out as a tenacious and visually rewarding herbaceous perennial ideal for almost any garden setting. Its unique chartreuse foliage paired with striking violet-blue blooms ensures that this Cranesbill variety is a low-maintenance star. Check your USDA Zone compatibility and plan to incorporate this colorful, tough plant into your landscape this coming planting season.

Companion Planting

Selecting appropriate companions enhances the aesthetic appeal and cultural success of Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE. Because this Cranesbill prefers medium moisture and well-drained soil, pair it with other perennials that share similar preferences, such as Hostas (in shadier spots), Alliums, or early-season spring bulbs like Daffodils that finish blooming before the geranium hits its stride. Its bold foliage acts as a perfect textural foil for fine-bladed ornamental grasses or silvery Lamb’s Ears, creating varied layers of texture in borders.

When using the Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE as a ground cover, plant taller specimens behind it that can emerge through the low mound later in the season. Consider planting taller flowering spikes like Salvia or Veronica nearby; the upright habit of these plants offers a strong vertical contrast to the spreading, mounding habit of the Cranesbill. Maintaining consistent moisture regimes is key, so avoid pairing it with true xeriscape plants unless you are prepared to water the drought-tolerant companions more frequently.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Early Spring (March/April): As new growth emerges, conduct a light tidy-up by removing any dead foliage from the previous year. This is the best time to incorporate a small amount of compost around the base of the plant to refresh nutrients. Ensure soil drainage is adequate before heavy spring rains arrive.

Late Spring/Early Summer (May/June): Monitor blooming closely. This is the peak flowering period for Geranium ‘Blogold’ BLUE SUNRISE. If blooms are fading prematurely due to heat spikes, plan for a mid-season shear. Continue watering regularly, ensuring the soil stays consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Mid-Summer (July/August): If the main flush of flowers is complete and the plant looks tired, cut the foliage back by about one-third to one-half its total height (shearing). This rejuvenation technique encourages fresh new growth and increases the likelihood of sporadic rebloom continuing into the fall months.

Fall/Winter (October Onward): In colder zones (5-6), leave the foliage until it dies back naturally or the first hard frost. Cut back remaining hardy stems in late fall or early spring before new growth begins. Little winter protection is usually needed for established plants.