The Cranesbill Geranium

The Cranesbill Geranium or Geranium Maculatum gets its name from the seed which is shaped like a cranes bill. This flower is native to North America and makes a great garden flower. Other names for this plant include wild geranium, Alum Bloom, American Cranesbill Root, Old Maids Nightcap, Crowfoot, Stork Bill, Doves Foot and Chocolate Flower.

Planting Tips For Cranesbill

For outdoor planting, geraniums will grow just as good in containers as they will in the garden bed.

Geraniums like the sun, but not too much in climates that are very hot. Put them in a spot that will get 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. Strong winds can damage these plants so make sure the area is protected.

Use a well drained mildly acidic soil for best plant growth.

Keeping geraniums in containers is nice if you live in a climate with a harsh winter – you can bring the plant in in the cold weather and set it back out when the last frost is over. Make sure you give it a planter that is large enough for the plant and take care to not overwater.

Geraniums can be nice to have indoors to brighten up a dull winter. Make sure you put them in a very sunny spot and use a well drained potting mix. Optimum temperatures for these plants is 65 degrees in the day and 55 at night.

Make sure you check the Cranesbill for signs of pests and diseases

Where To Buy

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Of Interest:

Hardy Geraniums

Plant Bytes

The Cranesbill can enhance your patio. Serious diseases of geranium, especially bacterial blight, southern wilt, Pseudomonas leaf spot, and rust, can arrive at your greenhouse on cuttings. Geranium plants tend to break and wilt in windy locations so plant them in a protected area. Geraniums are loved for their colorful blossoms and aromatic oil.

The wild geranium is also called the Carolina geranium and is a semi-erect winter annual which is found throughout the United States and Canada. When purchasing geraniums, look for sturdy plants with good strong leaves. This plant commonly found at your local greenhouse is actually a native wildflower of this region. There are herbal uses as well and this plant can be used for inflammation with its mild, soothing effect.

More On Geraniums:

Healing Properties Of Geraniums
Explore the medicinal uses of this plant from healing skin to repelling insects to relieveing symptoms of PMS.

Geranium Care
How to plant and care for your Geraniums.

Geranium Pests And Disease
What's making your plant turn yellow? Find out what it could be and how to treat it.