Bloody Cranesbill Geranium sanguineum var. striatum 'Splendens'
ABOUT
The Geranium sanguineum 'Splendens', commonly known as the Bloody Cranesbill, presents a captivating display of delicate, eye-catching blooms. Its flowers, striking in their appearance, feature light pink to lavender petals elegantly veined with rich crimson, creating a distinctive striated pattern. The petals, rounded yet slightly notched at the tips, are arranged in a symmetrical open-faced design, inviting admiration and providing a platform for pollinators. They emerge in abundance, creating a soft, cloud-like effect against the contrasting foliage. Complementing its lively blossoms, the Bloody Cranesbill's leaves are deeply lobed and cut, resembling the slender, elongated fingers of a hand. Their color is a lush, verdant green, often with undertones or highlights that may shift with the seasons. The leaves provide a textured backdrop to the flowers, adding to the plant's overall visual interest. The foliage also takes on a reddish tinge in the fall, contributing to the plant's ornamental value throughout the growing season. Collectively, these features combine to create a plant that is not only a favorite in gardens for its beauty but also a resilient and enduring perennial, able to enhance outdoor spaces with its colorful, easy-going charm.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Geraniaceae
Synonyms
Bloody Cranesbill, Striped Bloody Cranesbill, Splendid Cranesbill
Common names
Geranium sanguineum 'Splendens'.
ToxicityTo humans
The Bloody Cranesbill, more commonly known as Hardy Geranium, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. Ingesting any part of this plant typically does not lead to serious poisoning or death. However, consuming any plant not intended for human consumption can sometimes cause mild stomach upset or an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.
To pets
The Bloody Cranesbill, also known as Hardy Geranium, is not known to be toxic to pets. It is generally regarded as safe around cats and dogs, with no widespread reports of serious illness following ingestion. As with any non-food plant, eating large quantities could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some pets.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Pink
Height
0.5 feet (15 cm)
Spread
1.5 feet (45 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Appeal: Adds vibrant color and texture to gardens with its striking pinkish-purple flowers and lush green foliage.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for busy gardeners or those with limited gardening experience.
- Drought Tolerance: Can survive in dry conditions, reducing the need for frequent watering and conserving water resources.
- Attracts Pollinators: Provides nectar for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects, supporting local ecosystems.
- Ground Cover: Its dense growth habit can help prevent soil erosion and suppress weed growth, promoting a healthier garden environment.
- Cold Hardy: Adapts well to cooler climates and can survive frost, extending its growing range to northern gardens.
- Long Blooming: Offers a lengthy bloom time from late spring through summer, providing prolonged visual interest.
- Versatility: Suitable for a variety of garden styles including borders, rock gardens, and as underplanting for taller shrubs.
Medical Properties- This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Textile Dyeing: The crushed leaves and stems of Geranium can be used to create a greenish-brown or beige dye for natural fiber textiles.
- Insect Repellant Sachets: Dried Geranium flowers can be placed in sachets to repel insects from wardrobes and drawers.
- Natural Potpourri: The dried flowers and leaves of Geranium can be added to potpourri mixtures for a scented home accessory.
- Floral Arrangements: Fresh Geranium flowers can add a delicate touch to floral arrangements and bouquets.
- Cooking Garnish: Edible varieties of Geranium flowers can be used to garnish desserts and salads with a splash of color.
- Crafting: Pressed Geranium flowers can be used in scrapbooking, card making, or as embellishments in other crafts.
- Photography: The distinct appearance of Geranium provides an excellent subject for botanical photography and art.
- Companion Planting: Geranium can be planted in gardens to attract beneficial insects and act as a companion plant to vegetables.
- Biodegradable Confetti: Dried and crumbled Geranium petals make for eco-friendly confetti at weddings or celebrations.
- Education: Geranium plants can be used as educational tools for teaching botany and plant lifecycle in schools.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Bloody Cranesbill is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Bloody Cranesbill is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Health - Geraniums are often associated with wellness and recovery due to their healing properties in traditional medicine.
- Fertility - With their full, round leaves and clusters of flowers, geraniums can symbolize fertility and abundance.
- Happiness - The bright and cheerful flowers of the geranium are commonly associated with happiness and positive emotions.
- Friendship - Geraniums are sometimes given as gifts between friends to symbolize a strong friendship or to wish for harmony in the relationship.
- Protection - Historically, geraniums were planted around homes for spiritual protection against negative influences.
WaterThe Bloody Cranesbill should be watered when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which typically amounts to once a week during the growing season. Use lukewarm water and avoid getting water on the foliage to prevent leaf spot diseases. Applying about one to two gallons of water per square yard every week should suffice. In hot, dry periods, more frequent watering may be necessary to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Reduce watering in the fall and winter months when the plant's growth slows down.
LightBloody Cranesbill thrives in a spot that receives full sun to partial shade. The ideal location provides morning sunlight with some afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Ensure it gets at least six hours of sunlight daily for optimum flowering.
TemperatureBloody Cranesbill prefers temperatures between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and cooler temperatures at night, not falling below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. It can survive temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit but for best growth, it should not be exposed to extreme heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
PruningPrune the Bloody Cranesbill to remove spent flowers and encourage a second bloom, as well as to maintain a neat shape and promote healthy growth. Pruning is best done after the first flowering in early summer; simply trim back the plant by about half. Deadheading spent blooms throughout the season can also improve its appearance and vigor.
CleaningAs needed
SoilBloody Cranesbill thrives best in a well-draining soil mix that is rich in organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral pH, ideally ranging between 5.8 and 7.2. A mix of two parts garden soil, one part peat moss or well-rotted compost, and one part sharp sand or perlite would create an optimal environment for growth.
RepottingBloody Cranesbill does not require frequent repotting and can generally be repotted every 2 to 3 years. It is best to repot in the spring just before new growth begins, allowing the plant to establish in its new container for the growing season.
Humidity & MistingBloody Cranesbill prefers moderate to slightly high humidity levels but is adaptable and can tolerate the drier air found in most home environments without the need for additional humidity.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light and ensure good air flow.
Outdoor
Full sun to part shade and well-draining soil.
Hardiness zone
4-8 USDA.
Life cycleThe Bloody Cranesbill 'Splendens' begins its life cycle as a seed, which, upon germination in spring, sprouts and develops a root system and foliage. It enters a vegetative stage where leaves grow in a rosette form. As temperatures rise in late spring to early summer, the plant transitions to the flowering stage, producing its distinctive pink-veined flowers. After pollination, typically by insects, the plant produces fruit in the form of a beaked capsule containing seeds, which signifies its reproductive stage. The fruit eventually disperses seeds to give rise to new plants, thus continuing the cycle. In autumn, the plant dies back with the onset of colder weather, surviving the winter as a rootstock, and regrows the following spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
Geranium sanguineum var. striatum 'Splendens', commonly known as Striped Bloody Cranesbill, is typically propagated by division or cuttings. The most popular method is division, which is best done in the spring. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the entire plant, making sure to keep as much of the root system intact as possible. The clump can then be gently pulled apart into smaller sections, ensuring that each section has a portion of root and a few shoots. These divisions should be replanted as soon as possible in well-draining soil at the same depth they were growing previously. Water the new divisions thoroughly after planting to help establish them. This method is effective because it maintains the characteristics of the parent plant and allows gardeners to quickly increase the number of plants they have.
