Geranium pratense

Geranium pratense, the meadow crane's-bill or meadow geranium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Geraniaceae, native to Europe and Asia. Forming a clump up to broad, it is a herbaceous perennial with hairy stems and lax saucer-shaped blooms of pale violet. It is extremely hardy to at least, reflecting its origins in the Altai Mountains of central Asia.

Description

The leaves are deeply divided into 7-9 lobes and 3-6 inch wide and the flowers are pale blue, although getting paler into the centre. The flowers have 5 petals, which sometimes have veins. The stamens have pink-purple stalks with dark purple anthers.

Cultivars

Several cultivars are available for garden use, of which 'Mrs Kendall Clark' and 'Plenum Violaceum' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Uses

Geranium pratense is a melliferous herb. Its nectar secretion is 1.3 – 1.5 mg/24 hrs. with a sugar content of 57 – 71 %.