Alpine Geranium
Erodium reichardii
Zones 2–13
Growing
This creeping perennial excels as a resilient, evergreen mat that functions beautifully as a lawn alternative or a way to fill the gaps between pavers. Because it spreads quickly by dropping its own seeds, you can establish a dense carpet that naturally suppresses weeds. It is particularly well-suited for rockeries, alpine gardens, or planting under trees, provided the area does not become waterlogged. While it can handle light, occasional foot traffic, avoid heavy trampling to maintain the integrity of the low mat.
When starting from seed or transplanting indoor starts, ensure the soil remains well-drained and stays within a slightly acidic to neutral pH range. If you wish to expand your collection, you can also propagate the plant through division. As the plant matures, you may notice its unique fruit, which features a long, pointed shape reminiscent of a bird's beak. This characteristic is why many members of this genus are commonly referred to as stork's-bills. For a more colorful display, look for specific hybrids like 'Roseum' to add rose-pink tones to your garden borders.
| Sun | full sun |
|---|---|
| Water | low |
| Grow time | — |
| Height | <1ft |
| Spacing | 6–12in |
| Full sun | ✓ |
|---|---|
| Part shade | ✓ |
| Shade | ✗ |
| Life cycle | perennial |
|---|---|
| Category | creeping perennial |
| Growth habit | ground cover |
| Frost tolerance | hardy |
| Height | under 1ft |
| Spacing | 6–12in |
| Native us | ✗ |
| Water | low |
|---|---|
| Drainage | well drained |
| Soil ph min | 5.5 |
| Soil ph max | 7.5 |
| Propagation | |
| Seed | ✓ |
| Cutting | ✗ |
| Division | ✓ |
| Graft | ✗ |
| Tuber bulb crown | ✗ |
| Transplant | ✓ |
| Container ok | ✓ |
| Spread | self seeds |
| Deer resistant | ✓ |
| Drought tolerant | ✓ |
| Toxic to | |
| People | ✗ |
| Pets | — |
| Livestock | — |
| Length | 6–12wk |
|---|---|
| Colors | |
| White | ✓ |
| Yellow | ✗ |
| Orange | ✗ |
| Red | ✗ |
| Pink | ✓ |
| Purple | ✓ |
| Blue | ✗ |
| Green | ✗ |
| Mat height | 2–6in |
|---|---|
| Spread rate | fast |
| Foot traffic | light |
| Evergreen | ✓ |
| Lawn alternative | ✓ |
| Mowable | ✗ |
| Between pavers | ✓ |
| Erosion control | ✗ |
| Weed suppression | ✓ |
| Under trees | ✓ |
| Status | none |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Northeast | ✗ |
| Southeast | ✗ |
| Midwest | ✗ |
| Plains | ✗ |
| Southwest | ✗ |
| Mountain west | ✗ |
| Pacific northwest | ✗ |
| California | ✗ |
| Hawaii | ✗ |
| State noxious | ✗ |
| Escapes cultivation | ✗ |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | no |
| Harvest | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
References: Wikipedia · how this data is made