Practical
Plants

Geranium tuberosum

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

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Taxonomy and growth

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

Uses

Edible uses

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

Edible tubers[1]. Up to 15mm wide[3].

Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
Europe - Mediterranean.
Habitat
Cultivated ground, fields, vineyards and meadows[5].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
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 or as soon as it is ripe in the summer. Division in late summer or early 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[3]. Tolerates a wide range of soil types[3]. Established plants are drought resistant[2]. This species is not hardy in all parts of Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to between -5 and -10°c[3]. Plants come into growth in the autumn and die down in mid-summer[2]. Plants spread by means of underground tubers and can be invasive[2]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[4]. At least one named variety has been selected for its ornamental value[3]. 'Charlesii' has a low spreading habit[3].

References

  1. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  2. Chatto. B. The Dry Garden. Dent 1982-00-00 ISBN 0460045512

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩

  5. Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7012-0784-1

    ↩

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