Meadow Cranesbill

Meadow Cranesbill Overview

Geranium pratense is an upright, clump-forming perennial that is native to Northern European countries, across to the Himalayas. It has hairy stems and deeply-lobed foliage. The blue-purple-violet - sometimes white - flowers have 5 petals and are around 4cm across. They appear in early to mid-summer. In the wild, Geranium pratense - also known as Meadow Cranesbill and Meadow Geranium - can be seen growing in meadows and verges, and it is the parent of many garden varieties of hardy Geraniums. Ideally, it likes moist, well-drained soil and a sunny position, but shade is tolerated well. It is a hardy, low-maintenance plant and is part of the RHS “Plants for Pollinators” initiative that showcases plants which support pollinator populations by providing ample amounts of nectar and/or pollen. A great choice for encouraging wildlife into your garden! Very much a 'cottage garden plant' it is also suitable for underplanting shrubs and roses, and it is used for ground cover in mixed borders and other settings. Geranium pratense freely self-seeds, producing varying offspring, and there are many different cultivated varieties available. (Geranium comes from the Greek noun 'geranos' meaning 'crane', which is a reference to the beak-like seed capsule.)