Erodium manescavii - Storksbill

Erodium manescavii is a perennial that thrives in the heat and drought of a well-exposed rocky soil. Similar to geraniums, it is easy to cultivate and its pleasant flowering combines well with its light foliage. It is ground cover that only dislikes heavy soils and stagnant moisture.

Manescau stork's bill presents very leafy intense green tufts with large lobed leaves measuring 30cm (12in) long and 10cm (4in) in diameter. Above, long stalks of purple-magenta-pink flowers marked with darker spots rise up in clusters. All of this forms a lovely spreading tuft that reaches 40cm (16in) in height and is very floriferous from June to September.

Originally from the Pyrenees, the Erodium manescavii is particularly resistant to cold and drought. Beneath the apparent delicacy of its flowers lies a vigorous perennial ground cover that is easy to cultivate in any well-draining soil in full sun. It is ideal in a rock garden, trough or crown of a wall combined with stipas, sedums or oreganos, but also on a slope or sunny flower bed.

Like its cousin, the perennial geranium, it is also nicknamed Stork's Bill or Heron's Bill, alluding to its elongated fruit that appears at the end of flowering. If allowed to mature, the plant will self-seed abundantly.