Geranium sanguineum 'Max Frei'

Max Frei Bloody Cranesbill

Deciduous Perennial

'Max Frei' is a compact, mounded bloody cranesbill that earns its front-of-border spot through three full seasons of interest. The foliage leads: deeply lobed leaves in rich green emerge in spring and stay fresh and tidy all the way through summer—no flopping, no tattering, no mid-season decline. In late spring the flowers open—deep magenta-pink, single, with the crinkled saucer shape typical of the species—and they keep coming, with flushes continuing into late summer. Then in fall, the foliage shifts to crimson-red.

The plant stays low—6 to 12 inches tall, spreading 12 to 18 inches—and the mounding habit is naturally tidy enough that it rarely needs intervention. That combination of long bloom, clean foliage, and autumn color in a low-maintenance package is exactly why this one keeps showing up in small gardens.

It handles full sun to part shade and accepts periods of dryness once established, though it looks better with regular moisture. Deer resistant. Draws bees and butterflies through the bloom season.

Good at the edge of a mixed border, tucked between stepping stones, or massed for groundcover effect. A front-of-border plant that doesn't need a lot of managing—which is more than you can say for most things that bloom this long.

Growing Conditions

Zone: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Exposure: Full Sun, Part Sun, Filtered Sun

Water Needs: High, Occasional, Regular / Even

Description

Size: 6 - 12 tall x 12 - 18 wide
Shape / Form: Low and Spreading, Mounding
Foliage Texture: Fine
Foliage Quality: Fine

Features: Attracts Bees, Attracts Butterflies, Dwarf / Compact Plant, Fall Color, Flowers, Long Blooming, Low Maintenance

Foliage Color: Green
Fall Color: Mixed / Variable, Mutli-color

Flower Color: Magenta / Deep Pink, Pink
Bloom Season: Spring, Summer, Late Spring / Early Summer
Flower Shape: Single


Uses and Applications

Landscape Uses: Attracts Pollinators, Beds and Borders, Edging, Groundcover, Massed, Mixed Border, Small Gardens
Special Situations: Deer Resistant
Wildlife: Bees, Butterflies, Deer Resistant, Pollinators

More Design Considerations

Season of Interest: Summer, Fall
Position / Role: front of border
Collections: eGardenGo Favorite

Care and Maintenance

Maintenance Level: low


Suitable Substitutes

Perfect Partners

Heuchera 'Plum Pudding' | Plum Pudding Heuchera, Coral Bells

Plant Combos