Variety Profile
This colourful ground cover not only gives a lengthy season of flowers but the evergreen foliage offers soft, feathery texture for year round interest. Low maintenance with no special requirements and relatively fast growing for those establishing a new garden.
There are around 60 species of erodium with the majority originating from the Mediterranean and Western Asian regions. There are several species native to Australia - the majority in Western Australia.
Closely related to pelargoniums and geraniums due to similarities in their fruit - all of which resemble long bird beaks. This characteristic is reflected in the genus names of each - Geranium: the crane (Greek geranos), Pelargonium: the stork (pelargos) and Erodium: the heron (erodios).
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Cultural Care
WATER REQUIREMENTS: Low. Once established, quite dry tolerant requiring only occasional long soak during extended periods of heat.
CARE: Low maintenance and easy to grow. Prefers a sandy loam but will grow happily in most soil types providing it is well draining. No pruning generally required although a light trim after a main flowering flush will encourage further displays and help maintain a neat habit. Apply a slow release fertiliser during autumn to encourage bushy growth and profuse flowering.
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Plant Uses
Bright colour for entertainment areas where it can be grown in containers either individually or mixed with taller perennials or grasses. Evergreen foliage makes a soft edging for hard surfaces such as paving, decking, gravel paths etc. Perfect for filling spaces between rocks also. Its size makes it ideal for small gardens or spaces. Lightly shaded areas such as beneath open canpopy trees can be brought to life with group plantings of erodium which could be mixed with such winter flowering plants as hellebores to provide a floral display almost all year.
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