Cranesbill's low, spreading habit makes it a natural for edging beds or softening path borders—and this hardy perennial returns year after year without complaint. Scarlet flowers arrive over deeply lobed, ferny foliage that takes on russet tones as temperatures drop.

It settles into lean soil where fussier plants sulk and spreads slowly to fill space. Deadhead spent flowers to keep blooms coming, or let them go to seed if you'd rather let it self-sow.