Geranium sanguineum Max Frei

Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei', also known as 'MaxFrei' Bloodred Crane's Bill, has a more compact growth habit than the species, forming a clump of finely divided, semi-evergreen foliage that turns red in autumn. It produces its light magenta pink cup-shaped flowers in successive waves throughout summer and into autumn. Over time, it forms good ground cover, thickening year by year, and it is a plant that tolerates sun, shade, and drought, making it particularly well-suited to Mediterranean gardens.

Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is a cultivar of Geranium sanguineum, native to Europe and Turkey. It has a relatively slow growth rate and forms a spreading clump that reaches a height of 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12in), sometimes more, and slowly spreads by its rootstock to form a mat-like growth of 40 cm (16in) or more in diameter. Its beautiful light magenta pink flowers bloom from May to July, and again in autumn. The fruits are prolonged by a long beak, resembling a crane's beak (hence its name). The foliage is semi-evergreen, turning various shades of red in autumn and winter. The leaves are deeply divided, hairy, dark green, and measure 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) in length.

In its natural habitat, Geranium sanguineum is often found in rocky soils, but in the garden, it adapts to all types of soil and exposures. 'Max Frei' is valuable at the edge of woodlands, where it is not hindered by competition from shrub roots. It is also welcome in sunny rockeries, on wild slopes, or in dry shade under trees. This geranium readily self-seeds (not always true to type) among other perennial ground covers such as thyme, Caucasus rock cress, and woolly artemisia. It also grows well in large containers.