Meadow Cranesbill Seeds - Geranium pratense

Geranium pratense or Meadow Cranesbill is a robust perennial wildflower that offers a profusion of soft violet-blue flowers in early summer. It returns and blooms faithfully, year after year on rather loose, bending stalks. The dense foliage turns bronze in autumn. This reliable, versatile plant will find a place in any garden, thriving in cool, rich soil.

Geranium pratense belongs to the Geraniaceae family. Its origins are uncertain, but it is spread over a wide area, from Western Europe to Western China. This hardy, herbaceous perennial occurs naturally in meadows and on roadsides. It forms bushy clumps, 50 cm tall and wide. It flowers in June-July, at the top of branched, hairy stems, sometimes repeat flowering in September. The 3-4 cm blooms are light blue-violet, marked with fine white veins and darker, protruding anthers. They are loved by foraging insects. The foliage is deciduous, made up of large, lobed and toothed, medium green leaves, approx. 20 cm long, appearing almost all the way along the sturdy, hairy stems. It takes on a nice bronze hue in autumn.

Like many other perennial geranium species, Geranium pratense performs very well in naturalistic gardens, providing nectar and pollen for many foraging insects such as butterflies, bees, bumblebees, etc... It is an ideal plant for cottage gardens, quickly bring colour to perennial beds or borders. It can also be grown along driveways or on slopes. Combine it with columbines, peonies, lupines, bellflowers, poppies and daisies.