Cranesbill recommendation

I really like cranesbills (perennial geraniums) but I've found because it's fairly windy round here that the taller ones, even the 30-50cm ones, tend to mound nicely then at this time of year they flop outwards leaving an unsightly barish centre showing even though they are in full flower.

Does anyone have a recommendation of a dwarf variety (max 9 inches) which has a decent flowering season and maintains its tufty mound throughout the season? I was thinking of Ballerina but I've never tried that before. Would that be the ticket? Or any other suggestions? Aspect is sunnyish border and a few in sun/shade, so suits most cranesbills.

Cheers

 

I have the same problem, I'll be keeping my eye on this thread.

 

Personally, I like the big geraniums. I would prop it up until it finishes flowering, round about now, then give it the Chelsea chop. That way, it'll just grow itself a nice fresh, low-growing mound of foliage. I suspect even low growing ones would tend to splay outwards due to the weight of flowers on the ends of the stems.

 

I love'em creepy and a bit sprawly myself. eg. Ann Folkard or Buxton's variety.
I have one or two over 18" but they grow up through/with other plants that give them some support.

 

Well, I don't mind them a bit floppy or sprawly when they are mid border as they can look lovely, but front of the border or edging a path, layabouts are hard to appreciate as they are often admired from above and, even though I have a naturalistic style of garden, too unsightly for me.

Sheal, as we seem to be of the same mind of this, I shall buy a couple of Ballerinas (and whatever very dwarf varieties I can find locally) and let you know how I get on.

Cheers
GG

 

I have a small pink one that stays as a bush but can't think of the name off hand.

Also have Johnsons Blue and some others that tend to flop so when they have finished flowering,I just cut them all back as Madahhlia says and then wait for the next flush of flowers to come some weeks later

 

Thanks GG.

I cut mine back too Kandy but it doesn't make them come upright. They look as if something's slept in the middle of the plant and totally flattened them.

 

Geranium sanguineum striatum is very pretty....I think it's related to Ballerina, but with shell-pink flowers on a neat mound of leaves. G. renardii is another, but mainly grown for it's leaves.
There's a new one over here called 'Thumping Heart' which (so far) doesn't flop.

 

Try ''Rozanne'', flowers non stop as the flowers are sterile & forms a large clump.

 

lolimac is scary with a pair of shears Woo. She cuts them back without mercy but assures me they return in less than a month with a new show,
Jenny

 

I take two to three inches off mine with a pair of scissors, grabbing a handful of stems at a time. They're pretty tough plants Woo and they don't mind being chopped.

 

Once the first main flowering is over I cut my cranesbills almost to the ground making them as neat looking as possible, takes very little time for them to start with new leaves and looking decent and then a few weeks later they are looking lush again and will flower on and off till frost. Tough as old boots they are ...

Sheal - I'm having a tough time finding the Ballerinas (guess it is pretty late in the season) but will keep shopping around. In the meantime, I have bought a couple of Erodium Bishops Form which I've never grown before but by the looks of it might make a good substitute. Will let you know how they do.

Cheers
GG

 

Is this what you are looking for GG?

http://www.crocus.co.uk/plants/_/geranium-cinereum-group-ballerina/classid.2826/

 

Yes i cut them right back to the ground ,give them a water and seaweed feed and back they come....this is the new growth from cutting back just over a week ago