Meadow Cranesbill Geranium pratense (Victor Reiter Group) 'Victor Reiter'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The 'Victor Reiter' is a cultivar of the meadow cranesbill, notable for its distinctive ornamental features. This plant showcases a rosette of deeply lobed, lush green foliage that takes on a bushy habit. Over the growing season, the foliage may exhibit hints of reddish-purple, adding subtle color to the garden. As it blooms, the 'Victor Reiter' produces an abundance of striking violet-blue flowers. These blossoms are accented by conspicuous veining and a white center, giving them a bi-colored appearance that stands out beautifully against the foliage. The flowers have a rounded shape with five distinct petals, and they grow in clusters on strong stems that rise above the leaves. This particular variety is appreciated for its longer blooming period compared to some other types of meadow cranesbills. The overall impression is one of a lush, colorful, and slightly wild beauty that can enhance the visual interest of any garden space.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Geraniaceae
- Synonyms
  Meadow Cranesbill, Hardy Geranium
- Common names
  Geranium pratense 'Victor Reiter'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The plant commonly known as meadow cranesbill is generally considered to be non-toxic to humans. Therefore, ingestion of this plant, Geranium pratense 'Victor Reiter', is not expected to cause symptoms of poisoning.
- To pets
  Meadow cranesbill is also generally considered to be non-toxic to pets. Ingesting this plant should not result in toxic effects or symptoms of poisoning in animals such as dogs and cats.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Varies
- Flower color
  Blue
- Height
  2 feet [60 cm]
- Spread
  2 feet [60 cm]
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  5
- Native area
  Europe

Benefits

General Benefits
- Ornamental Appeal: It offers a striking display of deeply veined, violet-blue flowers that enhance the visual appeal of gardens.
- Drought Resistance: Once established, it can tolerate periods of low water, making it suitable for xeriscaping or gardens in drier climates.
- Attracts Wildlife: The flowers attract pollinators such as bees and butterflies, supporting biodiversity in the garden.
- Seasonal Interest: Its bright flowers bloom in the summer and foliage often turns attractive shades of red and orange in the fall.
- Low Maintenance: It requires minimal care once established, making it an easy choice for gardeners of all skill levels.
- Cold Hardy: It can thrive in cold climates, as it's hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8.
- Perennial Growth: As a perennial, it will return year after year, providing long-term value in the garden.
- Soil Adaptability: It can grow in a variety of soil types, although it prefers well-drained soil.
- Border and Mass Planting: Ideal for use in borders and mass plantings due to its mound-forming habit and colorful blooms.
- Non-Invasive: Unlike some perennials, it does not tend to become invasive, making garden management easier.
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
- Crafting natural dyes: Geranium pratense's leaves and flowers can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics and textiles, resulting in a variety of shades from green to blue and purple depending on the mordant used.
- Educational tool: The plant can serve as a specimen for botanical studies and educational purposes to teach about plant biology, pollination, and the life cycle of perennials.
- Photography subject: Its vibrant flowers and foliage make it an attractive subject for photographers and artists, especially those who focus on botanical themes.
- Gastronomy: The edible flowers can be used as a garnish for salads, desserts, or drinks, adding a splash of color and a mild floral flavor.
- Ice cubes: Frozen into ice cubes, the flowers can add a decorative touch to cold beverages while imparting a subtle herby taste.
- Companion planting: Geranium pratense can be used in companion planting to attract beneficial insects and pollinators that support the health of a vegetable or flower garden.
- Fragrance extraction: The plant material may be used in the process of extracting essential oils or creating potpourris, providing a natural fragrance to homemade cosmetics or room fresheners.
- Decorative pressed flowers: The flowers can be pressed and used in crafting activities like making bookmarks, greeting cards, or in decoupage projects.
- Plant dye for art: The natural pigments from the plant can also be used in painting or as a non-toxic colorant in children's crafts such as homemade playdough or slime.
- Soil improvement: After the blooming season, the plant can be cut and left on the ground as green manure to enrich the soil with organic matter.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The meadow cranesbill is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The meadow cranesbill is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Unity and True Friendship: The geranium is often associated with positive emotions and is sometimes a symbol of unity and true friendship, reflecting the plant's tendency to grow in close bunches and its use in gardens to create a sense of harmonious community.
- Good Health: Some cultures believe that the geranium represents good health, possibly due to its use in traditional medicine and its hardy nature, suggesting vitality and well-being.
- Stability and Grounding: With its sturdy stems and ability to thrive in a variety of conditions, geraniums can symbolize stability and grounding, symbolizing a person's ability to stay balanced in the face of adversity.
- Ingenuity: Due to the diverse range of colors and forms it is available in, the geranium can symbolize ingenuity or creativity, representing the innovative use of resources or adaptability to situations.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The meadow cranesbill, commonly known as ‘Victor Reiter’, should be watered deeply and thoroughly to help establish an extensive root system, usually doing so when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Provide approximately one to two gallons of water per plant, every week during the growing season. In particularly hot and dry weather, increase watering to two or three times per week. During the winter months, reduce watering as the plant goes dormant and its water requirements decrease. It’s important not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
Light
The meadow cranesbill 'Victor Reiter' thrives in full sun to partial shade. It is best situated in a location that receives at least six hours of sunlight each day. However, in areas with very hot summers, providing afternoon shade will help prevent the foliage from scorching.
Temperature
Meadow cranesbill 'Victor Reiter' prefers temperate conditions and can typically handle temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal temperature range for the plant is between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s hardy and can survive brief periods of colder temperatures, but prolonged cold below the minimum can damage or kill the plant.
Pruning
Pruning meadow cranesbill 'Victor Reiter' is beneficial for promoting bushier growth and enhancing flowering. Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage new blooms. After the first flush of flowering is over, cut the plant back by half to encourage a second bloom. Pruning is typically done during the midsummer after the initial blooming period.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Meadow Cranesbill prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH range of 5.8 to 7.0. A mix containing loamy garden soil, compost, and some coarse sand or perlite promotes healthy growth. Ensure organic matter content for nutrient-rich soil structure.
Repotting
Meadow Cranesbill does not need frequent repotting and can generally be repotted every 3-4 years or when it overgrows its container. Spring is the best time for repotting.
Humidity & Misting
Meadow Cranesbill thrives in average humidity levels and does not require specific humidity conditions, making it quite adaptable to typical outdoor variance in humidity.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and keep soil consistently moist.
- Outdoor
  Plant in partial shade to full sun, ensure well-drained soil.
- Hardiness zone
  4-8 USDA
Life cycle
Geranium pratense, commonly known as meadow cranesbill or 'Victor Reiter', begins its life cycle in the seed stage where the embryo inside the seed awaits optimal conditions of moisture, temperature, and sometimes light to germinate. Upon germination, the seed establishes a root system and shoots emerge, growing into a young vegetative plant which exhibits leaves characteristic of the Geranium species. As it reaches maturity, 'Victor Reiter' develops a robust foliage of deeply cut leaves and stems that can attain heights up to 60 cm (24 inches). During spring and summer, it progresses into the flowering stage, producing striking violet-blue flowers with pronounced veining and a white center, attracting pollinators that aid in the plant's reproduction. After pollination, the flowers develop into fruit capsules, which resemble a crane's bill, giving the plant its common name, and eventually disperse seeds into the surrounding environment. The plant then either dies back in the autumn, as it is herbaceous perennial in colder climates, or may continue to grow in milder climates, completing its cycle annually.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method for propagating Geranium pratense 'Victor Reiter', commonly known as meadow cranesbill, is by division. This is typically done in the spring or early fall. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the plant and gently separate the root ball into several smaller sections, ensuring that each new section has a portion of the roots and some shoots. Replant each division promptly to avoid drying out, spacing them about 12 to 24 inches (approximately 30 to 60 centimeters) apart to allow ample room for growth. Water the new divisions thoroughly after planting to help establish them. This method of propagation is effective because it maintains the characteristics of the parent plant and allows gardeners to quickly expand their collection of this specific geranium cultivar.