Geranium macrorrhizum
| Geranium macrorrhizum | |
| Light: |    |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 6.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 2' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Geranium macrorrhizum (common name: bigroot geranium)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, virtually every bit of a divided plant, whether it has roots or not, will grow away and produce roots[1]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cultivation: Easily grown in dry or moist situations, in sun or light shade[2][3]. Succeeds even in deep shade[4]. Tolerates a wide range of soil types, succeeding in any moderately fertile retentive soil[3]. Calcicole[5]. Established plants are drought resistant[1].
A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[2].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[6].
Range: C. Europe. A garden escape in Britain in S. Devon.
Habitat: Amongst limestone rocks, screes, in woods and scrub to 2100 metres[2]. Shady places, especially in mountains[5].
Medicinal: Aphrodisiac[7].
Usage: The very aromatic leaves have been used in the past as a source of geranium oil[2]. They are used in pot-pourri and perfumery[8].
A good dense ground cover plant[9][3]. A very effective weed smotherer[2][1]. Plants grow rampantly, rooting as they spread[4]. They should be spaced about 60cm apart each way[4].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chatto, Beth. The Damp Garden. Dent, 1982.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Perennials - The Definitve Reference. Pan Books, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.