Cranesbill: Propagation, Effect and Use

The cranesbill is widespread as a bee-friendly flowering perennial and wild plant. With us you will learn everything about the growth, propagation and use of cranesbills in the garden.

The cranesbill (geranium) was considered an important medicinal plant in the Middle Ages and is native to almost every garden today. We present the diverse genus of cranesbills and give tips on propagation and use.

Cranesbill: origin and characteristics

Cranesbills or geraniums are the most species-rich genus of the cranesbill family (Geraniaceae). They are related to their namesakes, the summer balcony flowers geraniums (pelargonium), closely related. Cranesbills are found on almost every continent and grow as an annual, rarely biennial or mostly perennial as a perennial. The growth forms of the approximately 400

Cranesbill species differ greatly, as they can grow creeping, upright, bushy compact or climbing. Native to us and found on rubble dumps, on shady edges of paths and forests as well as in fields, Ruprechtskraut (Geranium robertianum), dwarf cranesbill (Geranium pusilla), Slotted Cranesbill (Geranium dissectum) and the soft cranesbill (Geranium molle).

In general, cranesbills reach a height of between 15 and 70 cm. They are usually much wider than they are tall. The plants are often hairy on the stem, leaf and calyx and are soft to the touch. The leaves of the cranesbill are usually in five parts and deeply pinnately notched. However, some species also have rounded leaves with a lobed edge. Some perennial cranesbills are evergreen, while others show gorgeous foliage coloring in shades of orange, yellow, or red in the fall.

The cranesbill flower is round, fivefold and has ten stamens, some of which protrude far like the rock cranesbill (Geranium macrorrhizum). The flowers sit individually, often in pairs at the end of the flower stalk, more rarely as a raceme with several buds. Depending on the species and variety, the flowering period of cranesbills begins in April and ends in October. Many bloom for months, others only briefly, but can develop a second bloom after an early pruning. Cranesbills are bee-friendly plants because they flower to bridge the nutrient-poor midsummer and provide nectar and pollen. The seeds form in long, beak-shaped split fruits that explode explosively when ripe and eject the seeds meters away. The elongated fruit of the cranesbill is therefore also known as the catapult fruit.

Which Cranesbill flowers the longest? In addition to our native wild species, cranesbills with a long flowering period are above all the ash-colored cranesbill (Geranium cinereum) and the water-loving marsh cranesbill (Geranium palustre).

Weed or useful weed?

The question of whether cranesbill is a weed or a useful wild herb can be debated for a long time. In agriculture, some species are considered annoying weeds that spread quickly and widely on fields and grassland meadows. At the same time, some cranesbills, as indicator plants, provide information about the soil conditions or available nutrient reserves. Cranesbill flowers feed numerous insects, including rare wild bees. Some of our native species can be collected and used as medicinal plants.

Cranesbill as a weed

Cranesbill in the lawn can become an unloved weed. Because it is often too low to be mowed and at the same time multiplies via the seeds thrown over a wide area. Cutting out plants before seed maturity is the best way to control them.

tip: The dwarf cranesbill is considered an indicator plant for increased nitrogen levels in the soil. By reducing this accordingly in the fertilization, the strong cranesbill growth can be slowed down and it disappears in the long run.

Cranesbill vs ground elder

Collapsing cranesbills such as the magnificent cranesbill (geranium x magnificum) thanks to strong growth to suppress goutweed (Aegopodium podagria) are planted. First, free the affected area from ground elder and work the soil, for example with a garden tiller. The chopped up root pieces are then carefully collected with a leaf rake. Then it goes to that Planting Cranesbill. Under optimal conditions, the cranesbill can spread above and below ground over time and thus displace the goutweed.

Propagating Cranesbill

Depending on the species, cranesbills can be propagated either by seed or by cuttings. Most like to sow themselves in the garden. For a controlled sowing or propagation of varieties, cranesbill seeds can be planted in autumn, together with almost ripe, brown Collect the discolored beak fruit and let it dry in a bag until the split fruit and the rounded seeds burst open release. Take them out and let them dry for a few more days at room temperature. Many cranesbill species are cold germinator. This means the seeds need a cold stimulus to germinate. So either sow cranesbill seeds outdoors in autumn or place the seeds embedded in moist sand in the refrigerator for four to six weeks. Then the seeds are sown about one centimeter deep in the ground and everything is kept moist at temperatures of 15 - 20 °C. After about two weeks, the first tender seedlings will appear. They can be pricked out after four to six weeks and put outdoors.

Cranesbill cuttings should ideally be cut in the summer before flowering. Using a sharp knife, a 10 cm long, not yet lignified piece of shoot is separated from the mother plant and then defoliated down to the young foliage at the tip of the shoot. The shoot is stuck deep into the growing substrate and kept moist at around 20 °C for the coming weeks. A plastic hood increases the relative humidity and supports growth.

A nutrient-poor potting soil like ours is suitable both for sowing and for cranesbill cuttings Plantura Organic Herb & Seed Soil. The loose, airy structure promotes root formation and reduces the risk of waterlogging.

Is cranesbill poisonous or edible?

Cranesbills are basically non-toxic to humans and pets. The stinky cranesbill is edible and can be added to herb salads or flower salts without hesitation. An exception is the meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense), which is poisonous to hamsters, but which they also hate to eat. However, cranesbills contain various essential oils that can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive skin. Therefore, wear gloves when planting, pruning and other care measures for safety.

medicinal properties and use

In the Middle Ages, cranesbill was of great importance in folk medicine for the treatment of wounds and bleeding. Even today, the healing effect of cranesbill can be used in phytotherapy. Especially the spotted cranesbill (Geranium maculatum), blood cranesbill and the Ruprechtskraut are said to promote haemostasis and wound healing when used externally and to fight inflammation of the oral mucosa. Internally, stomach ulcers, diarrhea and kidney inflammation as well as kidney stones can result from ingestion positively influenced by cranesbill tea made from dried leaves or homeopathic preparations will.

Another shade-tolerant flowering perennial is this liverwort (hepatica). We introduce the violet flowering forest dweller and give tips on planting, care and propagation.