Practical
Plants

Geranium pratense

Meadow Crane's Bill

a perennial member of the Geranium genus in the family Geraniaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Height
1.2 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is used as a vulnerary[4]. The root is used in Tibetan medicine where it is said to have an acrid, sweet flavour plus a cooling potency[5]. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and febrifuge, it is used in the treatment of fevers from influenza, inflammation of the lungs, pain and swellings of the limbs[5].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiinflammatory
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Vulnerary

Environment

Range
Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to Spain, the Himalayas and N. Asia.
Habitat
Meadows and roadsides[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 5+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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. 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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in any moderately fertile retentive soil in a sunny position[2]. Tolerates a wide range of soil types[2]. There are many named varieties, selected for their ornamental value[2]. Plants can be naturalized in meadows[2]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[3].

References

  1. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  3. Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8

    ↩

  4. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩

  5. Tsarong. Tsewang. J. Tibetan Medicinal Plants Tibetan Medical Publications, India 1994-00-00 ISBN 81-900489-0-2

    ↩1↩2

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