Geranium sanguineum Elsbeth

The Geranium sanguineum 'Elsbeth', also known as Bloody Cranesbill or Crane's Beak, has an aerial development, forming a clump of finely divided, semi-evergreen foliage that turns red in autumn. It offers its intensely dark pink to red cup-shaped flowers in successive waves during summer and into autumn. Over time, it forms a good ground cover, thickening year after year. It is a plant that tolerates sun, shade, and drought, making it particularly well-suited for Mediterranean gardens.

Geranium sanguineum 'Elsbeth' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It originates from Geranium sanguineum, native to Europe and Turkey. It has a relatively slow growth, forming a clump that reaches a height of 30 to 40 cm (12 to 16in), sometimes more, and slowly spreads through its rootstock, forming a carpet of 40 cm (16in) in diameter or larger. Its beautiful intense pink and vibrant flowers bloom from May to July, and again in autumn. The fruits are elongated with a long beak, resembling a crane's beak (hence its name). The foliage is semi-evergreen, taking on varying shades of red in autumn and winter. Its leaves are deeply divided, villous, medium green, and measure 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) in length.

In nature, it is often found in rocky soils, but in the garden, it adapts to all types of soils and exposures. It thrives on the edge of woodlands, where competition from the roots of bushes does not bother it. It is also welcome in sunny rockeries, on wild slopes, or in dry shade under trees. This geranium easily self-seeds (not always faithfully) among other perennial ground covers such as thyme, Caucasian rock cress, and woolly artemisia.