Plant Profile: Geranium 'Dilys'

Names

Cranesbill, Geranium Dilys, Hardy Geranium

  • Photo of Geranium 'Dilys' (Geranium 'Dilys's)

Phonetic Spelling:

Genus:Geranium

Species:

Family:Geraniaceae

Geranium 'Dilys', a hybrid developed by Axle Tree Nursery, combines traits from G. sanguinium and G. procurrens. This cultivar features striking deep magenta-purple blooms and a spreading growth pattern, making it an excellent choice for ground cover.

For optimal growth, 'Dilys' thrives in moist, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil and prefers full sun to partial shade. It exhibits some drought resistance and is also resilient against deer and rabbits. To encourage continued flowering, regular deadheading or trimming is recommended.

Geranium 'Dilys' Feature Summary

Geranium 'Dilys' Image Gallery

Tags

#perennial
#low maintenance
#cottage garden
#mounding
#spreading
#herbaceous perennial
#hybrids
#groundcover
#rock gardens
#borders
#clumping
#container plants

Similar Plants

Geranium 'Dilys' is often confused with:

Geranium 'Dilys' Feature Summary

Attributes
Perennial
Stem Cutting
Division
Root Cutting
Fruit
Classic "crane's bill" fruit with a long beak.
Brown/Copper
Black
< 1 inch
Flowers
5-petaled red-purple to magenta-purple flowers just over an inch large. Each petal has dark veining. Blooms from late spring through summer.
Purple/Lavender
Spring
Summer
4-5 petals/rays
Funnel
Saucer
1-3 inches
Leaves
Palmately-lobed leaves in 5-7 sections. Slightly pubescent.
Palmatifid
1-3 inches
Leathery
1-3 inches
Stem
Prostrate, sprawling stems.
Hairy (pubescent)
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Ground Cover
Mounding
Spreading
Clumping
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Good Drainage
Moist
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Rock Garden
Butterfly Garden
Cottage Garden
Drought
Deer
Rabbits
Butterflies

Geranium 'Dilys' Attributes

Geranium 'Dilys': Country Or Region Of Origin

Hybrid origin

Geranium 'Dilys': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Geranium 'Dilys': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Geranium 'Dilys' Fruit

Geranium 'Dilys': Fruit Description

Classic "crane's bill" fruit with a long beak.

Geranium 'Dilys': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Geranium 'Dilys': Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Brown/Copper

Geranium 'Dilys': Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Geranium 'Dilys': Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Geranium 'Dilys' Flowers

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Description

5-petaled red-purple to magenta-purple flowers just over an inch large. Each petal has dark veining. Blooms from late spring through summer.

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Shape

Bell
Cross
Crown
Cup
Dome
Funnel
Irregular
Lipped
Radial
Saucer
Star
Trumpet
Tubular
Urn
Wheel

Geranium 'Dilys': Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Geranium 'Dilys' Leaves

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Description

Palmately-lobed leaves in 5-7 sections. Slightly pubescent.

Geranium 'Dilys': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Geranium 'Dilys': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Geranium 'Dilys': Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Geranium 'Dilys' Stem

Geranium 'Dilys': Stem Description

Prostrate, sprawling stems.

Geranium 'Dilys': Stem Color

grass
Green

Geranium 'Dilys': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Geranium 'Dilys': Stem Surface

Corky Ridges
Covered with a powdery bloom (glaucous)
Dull
Hairy (pubescent)
Polished
Smooth (glabrous)

Geranium 'Dilys' Whole Plant Traits

Geranium 'Dilys': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Geranium 'Dilys': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Geranium 'Dilys': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Geranium 'Dilys': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Geranium 'Dilys' Cultural Conditions

Geranium 'Dilys': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Geranium 'Dilys': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Geranium 'Dilys': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Geranium 'Dilys': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Geranium 'Dilys': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Geranium 'Dilys': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Geranium 'Dilys' Landscape

Geranium 'Dilys': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Geranium 'Dilys': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Geranium 'Dilys': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Geranium 'Dilys': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Geranium 'Dilys': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees