Geranium Dragon Heart Geranium Dragon Heart = 'Bremdra' (PBR)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Geranium Dragon Heart, commonly known as Cranesbill, is a perennial plant that boasts a striking appearance. The plant features lush, deeply cut green foliage that creates an attractive backdrop for its vibrant flowers. Its most eye-catching attribute is the large, magenta-purple flowers with a dark, almost black center, giving it a dramatic look. The petals have a slightly ruffled edge, adding a touch of elegance to the overall look of the plant. These flowers bloom profusely and can create a stunning display that adds a splash of color to garden beds or borders. The Cranesbill's foliage also offers seasonal interest as it may change colors in the fall, providing an extended display of beauty. This plant is not only known for its aesthetic appeal but also for its resilience and ability to attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, making it a beneficial addition to any garden.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Synonyms
  Dragon Heart Geranium, Hardy Geranium, Cranesbill Geranium.
- Common names
  Geranium 'Bremdra' (PBR).
Toxicity
- To humans
  Geraniums (Pelargonium), including the Dragon Heart variety, are generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, as with many plants, if ingested in large quantities, they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Skin contact with the sap may also cause irritation in some individuals. Always exercise caution and keep plants out of reach of children who may accidentally ingest plant parts.
- To pets
  Geraniums (Pelargonium), including the Dragon Heart variety, can be toxic to pets, particularly dogs and cats. If ingested, the plant can cause symptoms such as vomiting, anorexia, depression, and dermatitis. Cats may also exhibit symptoms like ataxia and muscle weakness. It is important to keep this plant out of reach of pets and seek veterinary attention if you suspect your pet has ingested any part of the plant.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Magenta
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Caucasus

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: The Geranium Dragon Heart is known for its vibrant flowers that attract bees and butterflies, promoting pollination in your garden.
- Low Maintenance: It requires minimal care, making it ideal for busy gardeners or those new to gardening.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it is quite resilient to periods of low water, which is beneficial in arid climates or during water restrictions.
- Long Flowering Season: It offers a long period of blossoms, often from early summer to the first frosts, providing sustained beauty in your landscape.
- Versatile Landscaping: The plant's compact and mounding habit makes it suitable for borders, beds, containers, and as ground cover.
- Visual Appeal: With its striking magenta-purple flowers and contrasting dark center, it adds a splash of bold color to any garden setting.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistant: It is known to be less palatable to deer and rabbits, which can help reduce damage from these animals in your garden.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- As a natural fabric dye: Geranium can be used to provide a soft, natural color to fabrics, yielding a range of hues from green to brown depending on the processing method.
- In perfumery: The essential oil from geranium leaves and flowers can lend its rose-like scent to perfumes and scented products.
- As a flavoring agent: While not common, the leaves of some geranium species can be used to infuse sugar or baked goods with a subtle floral essence.
- In art and crafts: Geranium petals can be pressed and used in decorative crafts, such as making bookmarks, greeting cards, or botanical paperweights.
- In photography: Photographers may use the striking geranium flowers for macro photography, taking advantage of their vivid colors and intricate patterns.
- As a teaching tool: Horticulture and botany teachers may use Geranium Dragon Heart to demonstrate plant structure, hybridization, and care requirements to students.
- As a symbol in cultural traditions: In some cultures, geraniums may symbolize different concepts like friendship or good health and can be used in ceremonies or cultural practices.
- In homemade potpourri: The scented leaves and dried flowers can be added to potpourri mixes to impart fragrance to a room.
- As a natural insect repellent: Some geraniums can deter certain insects and are sometimes planted in gardens or used indoors for this effect.
- In companion planting: Geranium may be used among vegetables and other garden plants as companion planting to create a diverse ecosystem that promotes healthy growth and pest control.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Geranium is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Geranium is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Protection - Geraniums, including the 'Dragon Heart', are often associated with protection due to their strong scent, which is believed to repel negative energies and even some insects.
- Love - The heart-shaped petals and the rich, vibrant colors can symbolize a bold and passionate love, aligning with its 'Dragon Heart' name.
- Friendship - Throughout history, geraniums have been given as gifts to express warmth, esteem, and platonic affection between friends.
- Health - Geraniums are sometimes believed to promote physical and emotional well-being, as their essential oils are used in aromatherapy for their soothing properties.
- Fertility - Fertile growth and the plant's ability to proliferate in various conditions can make geraniums, including the 'Dragon Heart', a symbol of fertility and abundance.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Hardy geraniums like the Geranium Dragon Heart should be watered deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Depending on the climate and weather conditions, water every 7 to 10 days, providing about 1 to 1.5 gallons per square yard each time. In particularly hot or dry weather, you may need to water a bit more frequently, while in cooler or rainy periods, less water is required. Always avoid overhead watering to prevent fungal diseases, and instead water at the base of the plant. During the winter months, reduce watering as the plant's growth slows down.
Light
Geranium Dragon Heart thrives best in full sun to partial shade, with a preference for about 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. An ideal spot would be one that receives morning sunlight and partial shade during the hottest part of the day. Too much shade can lead to leggy growth and fewer blooms, while too much intense sun can stress the plant, especially in hotter climates.
Temperature
Geranium Dragon Heart performs well in a wide range of temperatures, but the ideal growing conditions are between 65°F and 70°F. It can survive minimum temperatures down to around 30°F but should be protected from frost. Maximum temperature tolerance is generally around 85°F, beyond which the plant may require additional shading and moisture to prevent heat stress.
Pruning
Prune your Geranium Dragon Heart to remove dead or yellowing leaves and spent flower stems to promote new growth and more blooming. Pruning is best done in early spring or after the plant has finished blooming. Lightly trim the plant to shape it and maintain its compact form. This benign neglect can often lead to better flowering and a healthier plant.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Geranium, commonly known as Cranesbill, thrives in well-draining soil enriched with organic matter, with a pH ranging from 5.8 to 6.3. A mix with equal parts garden soil, peat moss, and perlite or coarse sand is ideal for the Geranium Dragon Heart.
Repotting
Cranesbills should be repotted every 1 to 2 years or when they outgrow their current container. The best time for repotting is in the spring.
Humidity & Misting
Cranesbills prefer moderate humidity levels but are adaptable to the typical humidity found in most home environments. They do not require high humidity to thrive.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil moist.
- Outdoor
  Plant in part sun, sheltered from strong winds.
- Hardiness zone
  5-8 USDA
Life cycle
The Geranium Dragon Heart, commonly known as Hardy Geranium or Cranesbill, begins its life cycle as a seed, which, when sown and provided with the right conditions, germinates into a small seedling. As it grows, it develops a rosette of leaves at the soil level, and root system establishes itself. The vegetative stage is characterized by the rapid growth of leaves and stems, followed by the plant reaching maturity and starting the flowering stage, during which it produces striking magenta flowers with a dark center vein and white eye from late spring to early autumn, attracting pollinators. After pollination, the flowers develop into fruit capsules resembling a crane's bill, which eventually release the seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. The plant may go dormant during the winter in cooler climates, dying back to its rootstock before regenerating in the spring. Perennial in nature, once established, Geranium Dragon Heart can live for many years, going through the cycle of growth, flowering, seed production, and dormancy annually.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The Geranium Dragon Heart, commonly known as 'Bremdra', is typically propagated through stem cuttings. The ideal time to propagate is in late spring or early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. To propagate, a gardener should select a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a section approximately 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) long, making sure that there are at least two nodes present. The bottom leaves are removed, and the cut end is dipped in rooting hormone to encourage root development. The cutting is then placed in a well-draining potting mix, with the node under the soil surface to facilitate root growth. Consistent moisture and warmth are maintained, and roots usually establish in a few weeks, at which point the new plants can gradually be acclimatized to outdoor conditions.