Larger Crane's-bills
What are they?
Though there are recognisable family traits, the crane's-bills are a rather large bunch and form the bulk of the family Geraniaceae. This page covers a number of larger-flowered, mostly non-native species that are generally clump-forming, perennial members of the family. As a group, they can be recognised by their palmately-lobed or deeply dissected leaves and their elongated fruiting capsules that resemble a crane's bill.
Where are they found?
Most of these species are grown as herbaceous perennials in gardens and are occasionally found as escapes or throw-outs on roadsides and waste ground, or spreading from original plantings in cemeteries and similar places.
Identification
Despite all being in the same genus, this is a remarkably varied group. The structure of the leaves will help to sort some of them out, while close details of the flowers will help with others. It is also worth making a note of the type of hairs on the flower and leaf stalks - especially whether the hairs are simple or glandular.
Rock Crane's-bill Geranium macrorrhizum
Common and popular as a garden plant and occasionally found as a garden throw-out. Flowers April to June. An early flowering species with flowers bearing long, projecting stamens. Petals may be white or various shades of pink or lilac. Leaves form dense, low mounds and have a strong and distinctive, pungent smell.
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Bloody Crane's-bill Geranium sanguineum
Native in Britain and perhaps formerly so on chalky soils in the west of our region. Now far more likely to be found as a garden escape. Flowers July to August. A rather small species for this group and the foliage is perhaps more likely to be confused with some of the smaller crane's-bills, but the flowers are large and showy with the petals not notched. Flowers glowing cerise pink.
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Meadow Crane's-bill Geranium pratense
A native species of grassy places, though today perhaps more likely to be found where introduced as it is often planted in natural planting schemes. Flowers June to September. A relatively tall, showy species with large, bright blue flowers and deeply cut leaves. Very occasionally found with white flowers.
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Wood Crane's-bill Geranium sylvaticum
Native in northern Britain but only recorded as a garden escape in East Anglia, where there have been no records since the 1960s. Flowers June to July. Flowers pinkish-violet, usually with a whitish centre; petals relatively narrow. Still occasionally grown in gardens and may occur again in the wider countryside.
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French Crane's-bill Geranium endresii
Recorded quite widely as a garden escape in grassy places but perhaps less common than records suggest due to confusion with the rather variable Druce's Crane's-bill. Flowers June to July. Flowers bright pink with veins more or less the same colour as the rest of the petal. True French Crane's-bills are rather delicate plants, without the 'blousy' vigour of garden hybrids. Commonly grown in gardens as the cultivar 'Wargrave Pink'.
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Druce's Crane's-bill Geranium x oxonianum
A very variable hybrid between French and Pencilled Crane's-bills and grown in a variety of named cultivars in gardens, from where it commonly escapes or spreads into nearby grassy places. Flowers June to July. Flowers pink to pale pink with the veins picked out in a slightly darker colour, 3-4cm across with shallowly notched petals and often nodding. A generally vigorous collection of fertile, garden hybrids with a wide range of flower variation (examples shown in the pictures here).
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Pencilled Crane's-bill Geranium versicolor
A rare plant of grassy roadsides and hedgebanks and probably much less common than formerly. Without a doubt, many - perhaps most - records of this species involve well-marked forms of Druce's Crane's-bill. Flowers June to July. Flowers white or very pale pink with reddish veins, small - 2.5-3cm across with deeply notched petals and facing upward, not nodding.
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Armenian Crane's-bill Geranium psilostemon
Occasional as a garden plant and rarely recorded as a garden escape. Flowers June to July. Flowers vivid, magenta pink with a darker centre. Glandular hairs easily seen on the stems.
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Purple Crane's-bill Geranium x magnificum
A garden hybrid, frequent as a garden plant and occasionally recorded as a garden escape. Flowers June to July. Stems with a mix of both glandular and non-glandular hairs. Flowers large, bluish-purple.
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Dusky Crane's-bill Geranium phaeum
Introduced as a garden plant and quite frequently found where sef-seeded or as a garden throw-out, usually in shady places. Flowers May to June. Flowers slightly nodding and a distinctive, dark maroon colour. Leaves may be green or have dark blotches on them.
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Hybrid Zonal Pelargonium Pelargonium x hybridum
Originated in cultivation from the cross-breeding of South African species. Occasionally found as a short-lived garden throw-out but not surviving frosty weather. Flowers mostly June to August but will continue until frosty weather sets in. Well known as the 'geranium' of cultivation and extremely variable due to extensive, selective cross-breeding. Flowers red, pink or white and leaves with or without a dark blotch and lighter variegation. Stems stiff and succulent.
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