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Geranium sylvaticum - L.

Common Name Wood Cranesbill, Woodland geranium
Family Geraniaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Meadows, hedgebanks, damp woods and mountain rock ledges[17].
Range Europe, including Britain from the Arctic to Spain east to the Caucasus and Siberia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Geranium sylvaticum Wood Cranesbill, Woodland geranium


Geranium sylvaticum Wood Cranesbill, Woodland geranium
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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Geranium sylvaticum is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from June to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, flies, Lepidoptera (Moths & Butterflies). The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade; Ground Cover; Meadow; Hedgerow;

Edible Uses

None known

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Dye

A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[46, 61]. It is violet[115]. Fugitive[115]. A useful and dense ground cover plant, succeeding in deep shade[197]. It needs weeding for the first year or so[197]. Plants should be spaced about 60cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile retentive soil in sun or shade[200].Tolerant of a wide range of soil types and of shade[1]. Plants can be naturalized in meadows[200]. A very cold-tolerant species. tolerating temperatures down to at least -25°c[187]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233]. Often self sows freely[197].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant 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. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Iran (north), Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia), Russian Federation (Hakasija, Respublika, Tyva, Respublika, Krasnoyarsk), Kazakhstan EUROPE: Denmark, Finland, Faroe Islands, United Kingdom, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Romania, Serbia, Spain, France (incl. Corsica)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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12

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

17200

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Subject : Geranium sylvaticum  
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