Geranium rotundifolium aka Round Leaf Crane's Bill

Geranium rotundifolium is an annual in the geranium family, Geraniaceae. Its English name is round-leaved cranesbill. Its native range spans Macaronesia, Europe, and North Africa. It also extends east to the Himalaya. Kew places it in the temperate biome. In England, the RHS describes its native range as the southeast. It grows in dry grassland, including sites with chalky soil. Other habitats include hedge banks, waste ground, and old wall tops.

This small herb has a bushy shape with loose stems. The RHS describes stems reaching about 1.3 feet [0.4 metres]. Its garden size range reaches 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall and wide. The leaves are round, with shallow lobes. The RHS lists the foliage as deciduous. Pink flowers appear from spring through late summer. Their centres turn white, while the veins show green and pink tones. These pale centres contrast with the pink outer parts.

Grow it in full sun or a partly shaded spot. The RHS recommends soil with moderate fertility and good drainage. It accepts chalk, loam, and sand, across acid, neutral, and alkaline conditions. Its moisture range runs from dry to moist. The RHS lists both exposed and sheltered sites as suitable. East-, south-, and west-facing positions also suit it. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H7. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9. These ratings use different systems and should be read separately.

The RHS suggests this plant for wildlife gardens and wildflower meadows. It also lists coastal, cottage, and informal gardens. Its low size suits the small-scale settings described in its habitat records. Plants reach maturity within one year, according to the RHS. Raise new plants from seed. Once flowering ends, cut back the old growth or remove the plants. Plants For A Future does not flag it as a weed.

Watch for vine weevil, geranium sawfly, slugs, and snails. Powdery mildew, downy mildew, and a virus may also affect it. Plants For A Future records no known edible uses or hazards. That lack of reported hazards does not establish safety for eating. The same source records medicinal use as an astringent and diuretic. It gives that use a low rating, with no other uses known.