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NO ADVANCE ORDERS (NAO) – A selection of plants are NAO-No Advanced Orders. They have proved to be tricky; acquiring propagules, producing them, or getting them through the winter. We only put them on our availability lists when they are ready to ship. No hopes dashed. Plants must ship within 2 weeks or their availability date.

First Impression: This cultivar of Geranium maculatum is a welcome splash of color to shade and sun gardens thanks to its increased sun tolerance.

Habitat & Hardiness: This cultivar is not found in the wild. Its USDA zone range is 3-8.

Plant Description: With its reddish bronze foliage in the fall and crisp pink flowers in the spring this Geranium makes a wonderful addition to gardens and landscapes. Bearing much resemblance to its straight species Geranium maculatum this cultivar has a better resilience to sun exposure and to foliar spotting.

Each floret is 1-1.5” across with 5 rounded petals. After flowering, distinctive capsule fruits form. The fruit is beak-like and about 1” long. As it matures, the carpels retract and the tiny seed are expelled away from the mother plant. Plants grow 1-2’ tall with a 1.5’ spread. They often form colonies from underground rhizomes.

Cultural & Maintenance Needs: Geranium maculatum ‘Huggy Bear’ flourishes in partly shaded sites with moist well drained soil. Plants tolerate loamy, sandy or poor infertile soils, acidic pH, short term drought and full sun if sufficient moisture is present. Plants are fairly pest resistant but are occasionally browsed by deer and other herbivores.

Landscape Uses: Excellent for a Wildlife Garden or Shade Garden. Plants are also used as Pollinator Plants or as part of a Grouping or Mass Planting. Geranium maculatum ‘Huggy Bear’ has Showy Blooms, Attractive and colorful Foliage and is appropriate for Cottage Gardens, Low Maintenance Plantings and Perennial Borders.

Companion & Understudy Plants: Try pairing Geranium maculatum with Aquilegia canadensis, Carex albicans, Carex plantaginea, Phlox divaricata or Polystichum acrostichoides.

The exotic Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Bevan’s Variety’ has similar appearance and culture and could be substituted in some garden situations.

Trivia: The generic name is from the Greek word geranos which means “crane” and refers to the bill-like fruit capsule. The common name “cranesbill” also refers to the similarity between the fruit and a crane’s beak.

The entire plant was once used to make a medicinal tea that was used to treat diarrhea, inflamed gums and sore throat.