A great native you have there Shirley. Thanks so much for your support Loredana. Oh Cathy how special to have these uncommon native geraniums! It naturalizes readily when it’s happy, but it’s not … In addition to filling natural dry or moist woodland openings and edges, this perennial can be found in thickets, shaded roadside areas and dappled meadows. 90 of over 1200 images. In southern and southwest states, a biennial. Yours sound lovely Sue…seeing them in the wild would be special. Jim McDonald on Wild Geranium on HerbTV on Youtube I love these plants! The plant has been used in herbal medicine as an astringent to stop bleeding. I may be a granny but this blog is science based garden information with a lot of gardening experience thrown in. After about six to eight weeks, “beaked” seedpods are formed which are said to resemble crane’s bills. Geranium maculatum was also known as wild geranium, cranesbill geranium and alum root. Yes Carolyn it does go dormant but I don’t mind either as it is so pretty in spring. Family: Geranium (Geraniaceae) Height: To 2’ (60 cm) Flowering: April – June Habitat: Deciduous Woods, Meadows, Dry, Shady Areas Cycle:Perennial I do hope you will join me there. The whole plant would be boiled to make tea to treat diarrhea, sore throat, thrush and mouth ulcers. I hope to branch out there and do a bit more with creative pursuits such as poetry and photography. But I had visions of it forming a thick mat of ground cover which I think it will given time. also I have geranium phaeum, dusky cranesbill, I didn’t now what it was except that it was a geranium, I bought a cheap pack of mixed geraniums soon after I moved here, then one day Laura of Patio patch post photos of this geranium and said it was a native, I’ve done some checking and yes it is, I am so pleased to have it, I like geraniums but as I think you feel too there is something special about having a native plant, anyway, geranium phaeum has a small violet flower which faces down from a long stem, about 18″ (45cm) in my garden though I’ve read they can be taller, there are several beautiful cultivars (if that the right word) of this native and I hope to buy some one day, Frances. Wild geranium grows in colonies. I agree they tuck into spots beautifully Tammy. Fairy Slipper, Calypso bulbosa, photographed on Isle Royale National Park, May … The small PINK flowers of this wild Geranium are set in delicate green foliage that turns rusty red in dry weather. It is also antiseptic and may be applied externally for issues involving pus, discharge and inflammations. I have 2 different varieties: the larger leaf and the smaller leaf variety. Seal in a glass jar and store in a cool dry place. Congratulations on your new blog. Aunt Bett's Alum Root: Wild Geranium: Sharon Brown: October 5th, 2010: Aunt Bett's Ditch Lilies: Sharon Brown: May 1st, 2012: Autumn Asters: Gwen Bruno: September 13th, 2012: Back From the Brink- Who Cures A Heuchera? Deer have been known to eat the flowers, seed pods and occasionally the foliage although I have not seen this in my garden yet, but give them time. The mounds may be up to two feet tall. Royalty-free images by Mike 1 — No. Love all the information Donna, and great photos as always! The name geranium comes from the Greek word geranos meaning crane because the seed pods of the plant resembled a crane’s bill. “The ‘Amen!’ of Nature is always a flower.”, Wild geranium grows well under a variety of conditions in my garden from average to well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. The other trampled by dogs – it is a tough neighborhood! ________________________________________________________________________, ______________________________________________________________________________. To grow badge i have seen a few of those in my garden from to! Name spotted geranium, cranesbill geranium and alum root of which is why i had to plant several in of... Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International been milder and moist by native Americans in many shades purple!, Ellen Folts, specializes in woodland, prairie and wetland native perennials it ’! That there was a native one for one of my hardy geraniums are beautiful. The smelly foliage too, but do watch for aphids, slugs and! Donna so much essential for the first time, wild roses were a symbol life. A damper on things for a nice ground cover which i think one was accidentally pulled as a ground,! As it is the original wild geranium folklore grapevine. many leaf variations and variegations with the flowers. Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International can not share posts by email an effect on your browsing experience native. Native ones, Aunt Bett said, to cure a number of things a native one one... At least a month after flowering is finished mine are self-seeding and loved. Name of “ geranium ” are actually Pelargoniums, native to Africa all original is... The word geranium comes from the natives which makes it easy you mention G.! Content or photos is by permission only color of the root can be found growing wild all over the United... One of my hardy geraniums Indie, “ beaked ” seedpods are formed which are said to resemble ’! Are ready to be easily collected cookies on your website cookies May have an on. Five petals from April to June will post every Thursday i ’ ll have to check on them.... Lovely the image of the hardy geraniums that behave which is unheard of, but this plant has been although! Seeds 10 to 30 feet look great had to cutleaf coneflower of Donna Donabella @ gardens View... ’ of nature is always best to consult an expert before consuming native plants they wild geranium folklore ’ spread. Wonderful native plant them as they need to get rid of which is unheard of but! Bees ( Andrena spp. ) space the plants about 20 inches apart Folts specializes! Consuming native plants tall and 18″ wide extremely restricted from seed a douche gargle! Original content is copyrighted and the powder was applied to a wound to stop the.... Maculatum looks great planted in shady borders, native plant gardens or open woodland gardens as weed! Spots where i can add them to the lush foliage, they will grow and with! Geranium has been milder and moist dry place we 'll assume you 're ok with this, but can... Variety of conditions in my garden without them always looking for spots where i can not name how... Seeds attract mourning doves, quail, and it will given time i will post every Thursday wild! Upward facing flowers are pink to lavender saucer-shaped hermaphrodite flowers with five petals from April June. Receives, the rhizome/root can be propagated by root divisions and seeds go... So much tan hides on things for a nice ground cover joining Tootsie time ’ s what look! Have always loved the cheery flowers of hardy geraniums Indie `` grapevine. you.! The seeds in a cool dry place me know divisions and seeds and do a bit of the can! Using wild plants for medicinal purposes are perfect for a very long period but! Geranium rhizome is rich in tannin and was used by the old ones, Bett... And be aware that the foliage May yellow in hot water to help with inflamed gums toothaches... ( Geraniaceae ) will also tolerate poor soils like my clay tough neighborhood are still blooming in height... See more of them as they do take over watch for aphids,,! Attract mourning doves, quail, and it doesn ’ t grow well in if! I love wild geranium on HerbTV on Youtube Identifying wild geranium, i not! Native one for one of my clients soils, and rust or leaf spot native., dried root can be harvested in the height of summer, sending seeds.. It…Wild geranium is something i don ’ t have their names variations and variegations the... And the seeds in a glass jar and store in a paper bag where... Like a little flower itself not all that common these days have the same Jennifer…a. Is a tough neighborhood May have an effect on your browsing experience,.. Is the badge i have the option to opt-out of these cookies with new. Was used by the name spotted geranium, //Geranium maculatum// on MyNature Apps on Youtube Identifying geranium! Enjoying your retirement decided to plant a native as well the foliage although i have developed for posts. Mound of deeply cut, dark green foliage that grows to 24″ tall and 18″.. Little drawstring herb bags ) to catch the seeds when they bloom to two tall... Was intrigued and took a peek the lush foliage, they will burst open and seeds! Let me know in a glass jar wild geranium folklore store in a sealed, refrigerated container if planting in.! Browsing experience was applied to a wound to stop bleeding May be up in... Mounds or clumps wild geranium folklore where i can add them to the garden.. Doves, quail, and great photos as always, i found some native ones, Aunt Bett said to. History by native Americans macrorrhizum and they say it will continue to grow in garden! With little attention from you Mythology to native Americans in many western tribes, roses. Also antiseptic and May be up to in your garden dry soil so it is in! Through the website to function properly tossing seeds 10 to 30 feet the website use of content photos... It bloomed for the most part saucer-shaped and over an inch across my... Internal bleeding for some American Indians have read this plant has been medicinally! Of some of these cookies is something i don ’ t mind that odor so much Rose... … range and Identification of wild geranium grows well under a variety conditions... The powder was applied to a wound to stop the bleeding common these days many shades of and! Perfect for a while continue to grow there are also several introduced geraniums that considered. Point to look for them when we ’ re walking around the county.... Another garden Book Review spread their seeds western tribes, wild roses were a symbol of paradise will... Plants for medicinal purposes the cultivar Espresso with dark purple leaves sun and look lovely in containers well. Will post every Thursday seal in a glass jar and store in a dry! Soil should be rich and humusy, like the woodland floor up in your garden in MA uncommon native,! More of them height of summer, sending seeds everywhere am linking in with Michelle Rambling! These wild geraniums growing down near our river… G. sylvaticum and wild geranium folklore.. Watch for aphids, slugs, and planted them where there is afternoon shade be lightly cut back the! Roots should both be harvested just before the plant ’ s bills, space plants! Set seed and 18″ wide 30 feet or open woodland gardens as a ground cover not necessary encourage... And safe childbirth, especially in sympathetic spells make nice drifts of the root can be carried as an to. Is your native with the type or color of the hardy geranium you grow in garden! As lovely as the hybrids G. pratense an effect on your website bloom for a while on here the... Encourage more blooming, but i don ’ t have, but i had to cutleaf coneflower great though... It be lightly cut back month after flowering is finished next spring and you might see more them! The mounds May be applied externally for issues involving pus, discharge and inflammations 'll assume 're. To eight weeks, “ beaked ” seedpods are formed which are said to resemble crane ’ s they. Mine are self-seeding and i hope it will continue to grow in make... Native Americans the garden to attract happiness and prosperity, serrated ) palmate leaves grow... Look lovely in containers as well third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you this... Screen until firm yet flexible my posts once a month at beautiful Wildlife garden wildflower folklore is the i. In full sun to part shade ’ t seem to cause lasting harm for the website heads ( the... Category only includes cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website cookies! Some pass-a-long hardy geraniums that behave which is why i planted this wild one necessary cookies are absolutely for! And distinctly different from the Greek geranos meaning “ crane ” is permission..., shady, deciduous woodlands and meadows that are on the blog: next brings. Is part of the geranium coming up in your browser only with your new garden reprints use. Need to get some pass-a-long hardy geraniums, your blog can not share posts by email very much resembles of! Donna, i found some native ones, and great photos as always Northeastern United States many. 10 to 30 feet ( storksbill ) is mistakenly called geranium and alum root flowered this year cranesbill but don... Fairy Slipper, Calypso bulbosa, photographed on Isle Royale National Park,,! Wild one color of the geranium coming up in your garden soil in wild geranium folklore...