Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum 'Album'
ABOUT
The Geranium sanguineum 'Album', commonly known as the Bloody Cranesbill 'Album', is a perennial plant known for its striking appearance. It features a lush foliage of deeply lobed, dark green leaves, which can turn to shades of red in the autumn, creating a beautiful contrast throughout the seasons. The 'Album' variety is characterized by its radiant, white flowers. These blooms have five rounded petals each, radiating from a central, vividly colored core, which creates a delicate and appealing look. The flowers are held above the foliage on slender stems, creating a cloud of white that dances in the breeze. This dense mat of foliage and blooms sprouts from a robust central point, spreading outwards in a mound-like form. Overall, the Bloody Cranesbill 'Album' is valued for its ornamental qualities and its ability to provide a long-lasting display of color and texture in gardens.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Geraniaceae.
Synonyms
White Bloody Cranesbill, Bloody Geranium.
Common names
Geranium lancastriense, Geranium sanguineum var. album.
ToxicityTo humans
The plant commonly known as Bloody Cranesbill is generally considered non-toxic to humans. Therefore, accidental ingestion of this plant typically does not result in any poisoning symptoms or serious consequences for human health.
To pets
Bloody Cranesbill is also generally considered non-toxic to pets. It is not known to cause any significant toxic effects, so pets that ingest parts of this plant are not expected to exhibit poisoning symptoms or suffer from serious health issues as a result.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
1 foot 4 inches [40 cm]
Spread
1 foot 4 inches [40 cm]
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
5
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts Pollinators: Geranium sanguineum 'Album' is known to attract bees and butterflies, which are important for the pollination of plants and the overall health of gardens.
- Low Maintenance: This plant is valued for its hardiness and ease of care, making it suitable for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of dryness, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Ground Cover: With its spreading habit, it serves as an effective ground cover, helping to suppress weeds and stabilize soil.
- Aesthetic Appeal: The plant's white flowers and attractive foliage provide visual interest to garden landscapes from late spring to early autumn.
- Wildlife Friendly: Geranium sanguineum 'Album' can serve as a habitat and food source for various insects, contributing to biodiversity.
Medical Properties- Astringent: Geranium sanguineum 'Album', commonly known as Bloody Cranesbill, may contain tannins that have astringent properties, potentially useful for treating minor wounds and skin conditions.
- Anti-inflammatory: The plant may have anti-inflammatory agents, which could help in reducing inflammation in various conditions, although specific studies are limited.
- Antiseptic: Herbal preparations of Bloody Cranesbill might have antiseptic qualities, which could be employed in cleansing wounds to prevent infection.
- Diuretic: There may be diuretic compounds present in the plant that could assist in increasing urine production, but clinical evidence supporting this use is scarce.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Insect repellent: Geranium oils are sometimes used as a natural insect repellent; however, ensure the species used is appropriate for this purpose.
- Fragrance: The scented leaves of some Geranium species might be used in potpourris or to infuse oils with a delicate fragrance.
- Cooking: Edible Geranium leaves can be used as a flavoring in desserts like sorbets or custards, provided the species is known to be safe for consumption.
- Dye: The vibrant flowers and leaves can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics or paper crafts.
- Garden border definition: The compact growth habit of this Geranium makes it excellent for defining garden bed edges or creating formal garden patterns.
- Companion planting: Planting Geraniums in vegetable gardens can sometimes help deter certain pests and act as companion plants for vegetables.
- Artwork: Pressed flowers and leaves of Geraniums can be used in crafting, such as creating botanical prints or adding embellishments to handmade paper.
- Education: Geraniums can be used in schools or educational programs to teach about plant life cycles, pollination, and botany.
- Photography: With their striking flowers, they are a popular subject for garden photographers and hobbyists looking to capture the beauty of nature.
- Water filtration: While not a direct use of the plant itself, Geraniums can be part of a plant-based water purification system, contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiCranesbill is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityCranesbill is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Health and Longevity: Geraniums are often associated with health and longevity due to their hardy nature and ability to thrive in various conditions.
- Friendship: The sharing of geranium plants or their cuttings has historically been seen as a gesture of friendship and goodwill.
- Happiness and Positive Emotions: The bright colors and pleasant scent of geraniums are believed to promote happiness and uplift spirits.
- Fertility and Reproduction: In some cultures, geraniums symbolize fertility and the continuation of life, likely linked to their prolific growth habit.
- Protection: Some folklore suggests that geraniums have the power to ward off evil spirits, making them a symbol of protection.
WaterCranesbill, commonly known as Geranium sanguineum 'Album', needs moderate watering, being mindful not to overwater. The soil should be allowed to dry slightly between waterings. During the growing season in spring and summer, water thoroughly once a week with about 1 gallon of water per plant, depending on the size and the weather conditions. During the dormant season in fall and winter, reduce watering frequency to every two to three weeks, ensuring the top inch of soil is dry before watering again. Always water at the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage which can lead to fungal diseases.
LightCranesbill prefers full sun to partial shade. It thrives best when receives at least six hours of sunlight a day. An ideal spot would be one that is sunny in the morning with some afternoon shade, or lightly dappled shade throughout the day. Avoid deep shade as this can lead to poor flowering and leggy growth.
TemperatureCranesbill is hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. It can survive in temperatures as low as 5°F and as high as 80°F, but the ideal temperature range for this plant is between 60°F and 75°F. It is a resilient plant that adapts to the temperature of most temperate regions without issue.
PruningPruning Cranesbill promotes healthy growth and a tidy appearance. Prune lightly in early spring to shape the plant and remove any dead or damaged growth. After the first flush of flowers, cut back the plant by about half to encourage a second bloom. The best time for a significant pruning to rejuvenate the plant is after the last frost in spring.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe Bloody Cranesbill prefers well-draining soil enriched with organic matter and a pH that is neutral to slightly alkaline. A mix of garden soil, compost, and sharp sand or perlite will create an ideal soil environment for this geranium. Aim for a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5 for optimal growth.
RepottingBloody Cranesbill should be repotted every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and provide space for growth. Repot in spring or early summer when the plant shows signs of becoming root-bound or the soil appears depleted.
Humidity & MistingBloody Cranesbill tolerates a wide range of humidity levels and does not require specific humidity conditions to thrive. Average room humidity is typically adequate for this hardy perennial.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and water when soil feels dry.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun to part shade in well-draining soil.
Hardiness zone
3-8 USDA
Life cycleThe Bloodroot geranium 'Album', typically starts its life cycle when seeds are sown in the soil; these germinate to develop a small radicle that grows into the plant's root system. After germination, seedlings emerge and form a rosette of leaves at the soil surface, initiating the vegetative stage where the plant undergoes growth and leaf expansion. As the Bloodroot geranium matures, it enters the flowering stage, producing distinctive white flowers that are pollinated by insects, leading to fertilization. Once pollinated, the flowers develop into fruit capsules containing seeds, marking the reproductive stage. When the fruit capsules mature, they burst open to disperse seeds, ensuring the continuation of the species. Over time, the parent plant may enter a phase of dormancy, especially in colder climates, where it survives through winter to regrow in spring, or it may die back, completing its life cycle, while the new generation of seeds continues the species' lineage.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The Geranium sanguineum 'Album', commonly known as the white cranesbill, is most effectively propagated by division, which should be carried out in the spring or fall. To propagate by division, the gardener should carefully dig up the plant and gently tease apart the root ball into smaller clumps, ensuring that each new section has a portion of the root system and several shoots. These divisions can then be immediately replanted into well-prepared soil, ensuring that the division is planted at the same depth it was originally growing. Regular watering should follow to help establish the newly propagated plants. The simplicity of this method along with its high success rate makes division the preferred and most popular means of propagating the white cranesbill.
