Wood Cranesbill Geranium sylvaticum 'Album'
ABOUT
The Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', commonly known as the woodland geranium, presents a beautiful and picturesque appearance, perfect for adding charm to garden spaces. Its foliage is deeply lobed, with a luscious green color that serves as a backdrop to its standout feature, the flowers. These blossoms are pure white, an attribute indicated by the 'Album' in its name, which translates to "white" in Latin. The flowers are composed of five rounded petals that form a saucer-like shape, often with delicate veins running through them that can be faintly discerned upon closer inspection. The woodland geranium blooms in later spring through early summer, offering a serene and pure display during this period. It possesses a clumping habit, meaning the plant grows in a bushy form with several stems emerging from the base, providing a somewhat casual, yet attractive growing pattern. The foliage may turn to attractive shades in the fall, providing extended visual interest beyond the flowering season. Overall, the Geranium sylvaticum 'Album' has an elegant and graceful presence in the garden, blending beautifully with other plants and creating a sense of tranquility with its pristine white flowers.
About this plant
NamesSynonyms
Woodland Geranium, Wood Cranesbill, Forest Geranium, White Woodland Geranium.
Common names
Geranium sylvaticum 'Album'.
ToxicityTo humans
Wood cranesbill, generally, is not considered toxic to humans. There are no well-documented cases of poisoning from ingestion of this plant. Therefore, it is not commonly associated with any symptoms of poisoning or known toxic consequences for humans from ingesting any part of the plant.
To pets
Wood cranesbill is also not considered toxic to pets. It is not known to cause poisoning in animals such as cats and dogs, and there are no common symptoms of poisoning associated with it. Therefore, ingestion of this plant by pets is not typically associated with toxic consequences.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
White
Height
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
Europe
Benefits
General Benefits- Attractive to pollinators: Wood cranesbill's flowers are favored by bees and butterflies, aiding in the preservation and support of pollinator populations.
- Landscape enhancement: With its bright white blooms, wood cranesbill can add visual interest and aesthetic appeal to gardens and natural landscapes.
- Easy to care for: Wood cranesbill is known for being low-maintenance, requiring minimal care once established, making it suitable for novice gardeners.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, wood cranesbill is relatively drought-tolerant, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Shade tolerance: Wood cranesbill can grow in both full sun and partial shade, offering flexibility in garden design and plant placement.
- Wildlife habitat: Provides cover and breeding spots for small wildlife, thereby enhancing biodiversity.
- Seasonal interest: Wood cranesbill blooms in late spring to early summer, adding seasonal color to gardens.
- Erosion control: The root system of wood cranesbill can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion on slopes and banks.
- Non-invasive: Wood cranesbill is not known to be invasive, making it a responsible choice for natural landscaping.
- Cultural significance: Often used in traditional cottage gardens, wood cranesbill can offer historical and cultural value to a garden setting.
Medical Properties- Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', commonly known as Wood Cranesbill, has traditionally been used in herbal medicine for its astringent properties.
- The plant contains tannins, which contribute to its potential to reduce inflammation and treat diarrhea.
- It has been used as a gargle or rinse to soothe sore throats and oral inflammations due to its astringent effects.
- The plant is believed to have antiseptic properties, which might make it useful in preventing wound infections.
- Topical applications in the past have included the treatment of skin conditions, such as rashes and eczema, though scientific evidence is lacking.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', commonly known as Wood Cranesbill, can be used as a natural dye, utilizing the plant’s roots to produce a variety of subtle colors for fabrics.
- The leaves of the Wood Cranesbill can be infused in hot water to create a calming tea with a mild flavor, although mainly for its aromatic properties rather than consumption.
- Pressed flowers of Wood Cranesbill are popular in crafts for making decorative bookmarks, greeting cards, or in scrapbooking for their delicate and intricate petal structure.
- In cottage gardens, Wood Cranesbill is often planted as a ground cover to suppress weeds due to its dense growing habit and broad foliage.
- The plant can be used in companion planting to attract beneficial insects such as bees and butterflies, enhancing pollination in the garden.
- Wood Cranesbill can be placed in floral arrangements as filler foliage, giving fullness and a wildflower aesthetic to the composition.
- Photographers sometimes utilize the picturesque blooms and foliage of Wood Cranesbill as a natural backdrop or subject for botanical photography.
- Its hardy nature makes Wood Cranesbill an ideal plant for erosion control on slopes or banks, as its root system helps to stabilize the soil.
- Educators can use Wood Cranesbill to teach botany and horticulture, as it exemplifies a perennial lifecycle and the reproductive structure of a typical flowering plant.
- The petals of Wood Cranesbill can be used for the traditional art of flower pounding, transferring their color and shape onto fabric or paper for artistic purposes.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Wood Cranesbill is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Wood Cranesbill is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Unity and True Friendship: Geraniums are often associated with positive emotions, and the Geranium sylvaticum ‘Album,’ commonly known as Wood Cranesbill, specifically symbolizes unity and true friendship, speaking to the deep bonds that can form between individuals.
- Stability and Fidelity: Given its hardy nature, Wood Cranesbill is often connected with stability and fidelity, suggesting a steadfast, reliable presence, much like a loyal partner or friend.
- Peace and Tranquility: The pure white flowers of the ‘Album’ variety evoke feelings of peace and tranquility, making it a symbol for serenity and calm in one’s life.
- Good Health: Historically, geraniums have been linked to health and healing. The Wood Cranesbill, with its medicinal properties used in folk remedies, carries this symbolism as well, representing the wish for good health.
WaterWood cranesbill, otherwise known as Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', requires even moisture but tolerates occasional dry spells once established. Water the plant deeply once a week, providing about 1 gallon of water per plant, ensuring the water penetrates the soil to reach the roots. During hot or dry weather, you may need to water twice a week. Cut back on watering when rainfall is sufficient to keep the soil moist. Always allow the top inch of soil to dry out slightly before watering again to prevent overwatering and root rot.
LightWood cranesbill thrives in full sun to partial shade. It's best to place the plant in a spot where it will receive morning sunlight and some afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. This light condition helps to encourage healthy growth and abundant flowering without causing stress from excessive heat.
TemperatureWood cranesbill is hardy and can withstand a range of temperatures. The ideal growing temperature is between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring vigorous growth and flowering. These plants can survive in temperatures as low as 5 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit but may experience stress or dormancy outside the ideal range.
PruningWood cranesbill benefits from pruning to remove spent flowers and encourage a second bloom, as well as to maintain plant shape, and should be deadheaded regularly during the flowering season. After the first flush of blooms, cut the plant back by about half to promote new growth and additional flowers. The best time for pruning is after the initial flowering period is over, usually in late spring or early summer.
CleaningAs needed
SoilThe Wood Cranesbill, commonly known as Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', thrives best in a soil mix that consists of loamy, well-draining soil with a good amount of organic matter to retain moisture. For optimal growth, the soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 5.5 to 7.0. Incorporating compost or aged manure into the mix will enrich the soil and promote healthy growth.
RepottingThe Wood Cranesbill should be repotted every 2 to 3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth. It's best to repot in the spring before the growing season begins. Choose a pot that is slightly larger than the current one to ensure the roots have enough room to grow.
Humidity & MistingWood Cranesbill prefers moderate humidity levels, typical of its natural woodland habitat. While it is not particularly sensitive to humidity, maintaining a relative humidity around 40-60% is beneficial, avoiding excessively dry air which could lead to reduced vigor and leaf desiccation.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place in bright, indirect light with moist soil.
Outdoor
Plant in partial shade, moist but well-drained soil.
Hardiness zone
4-7 USDA
Life cycleThe life of Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', commonly known as Wood Cranesbill or Meadow Cranesbill, begins with seed germination, which occurs in a moist and well-drained soil, usually in spring. After germination, seedlings emerge and develop into a rosette of leaves at the soil surface, and the plant establishes its root system. As the plant matures, it sends up flowering stems that bear distinctive white flowers with five petals, usually from late spring to early summer. Following the flowering period, the plant sets seed, with the unique geranium seed pods (cranesbills) dispersing seeds once they mature and dry. The plant exhibits a period of vegetative growth each year, with the foliage dying back in the autumn to its hardy roots. It completes its life cycle as a perennial, surviving the winter underground to re-emerge in the following spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The Wood Cranesbill, known botanically as Geranium sylvaticum 'Album', can be propagated by seed or division, but the most popular method is division, which ensures that the new plants are true to the parent and typically has a higher success rate than seeds. Division is most effectively done in either spring or autumn. To propagate by division, carefully dig up the plant, ensuring that you keep a significant amount of the root system intact. Then, using your hands or a sharp knife, gently separate the plant into smaller sections, making sure each new section has at least one growth point. Replant the divisions at the same depth they were previously grown, spacing them about 12 inches (approximately 30 centimeters) apart to allow for ample growth. After replanting, water the divisions thoroughly to help establish them in their new locations.
