Meadow crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense, Sp. pl. 2:681. 1753)

Family: Geraniaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. pl. 2:681. 1753

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Geranium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to Amur and Himalaya

Description

Meadow crane’s-bill, scientifically known as Geranium pratense, is a visually captivating flowering plant that has captured the interest of botanists and garden enthusiasts alike. This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, within the integral botanical work “Species Plantarum” (Sp. pl. 2:681. 1753).

The meadow crane’s-bill is native to a wide geographical range that spans from Europe through to the Amur region in Russia, and extends as far as the Himalayas. This diverse habitat range highlights the plant’s adaptability to various climates and terrains.

Belonging to the family Geraniaceae, meadow crane’s-bill exhibits delicate, cup-shaped flowers that are typically blue, although variations in color can occur. These flowers are not only a feast for the eyes but also serve an ecological role, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies to gardens and wildflower meadows. The foliage is equally enchanting, comprised of deeply divided, lobed leaves that provide a lush green backdrop to the vibrant blooms.

In addition to its ornamental value, Geranium pratense is appreciated for its ability to thrive in different soil types and conditions, making it a versatile and resilient addition to both cultivated landscapes and natural settings. This perennial plant is often found in meadows and along roadsides, where it contributes to the beauty and biodiversity of the environment.

Meadow crane’s-bill is more than just a pretty face; it embodies the resilience and beauty of the natural world, flourishing in varied conditions from Europe to the far reaches of Asia. Its robust presence in these regions underscores its ecological importance and ensures that it will remain a beloved species among gardeners and nature lovers for years to come.

Common Names

Dan: eng-storkenæb
Eng: meadow crane’s-bill, meadow geranium
Deu: wiesen-storchschnabel
Nld: beemdooievaarsbek
Nor: engeflock
Nno: engstorkenebb
Nob: engstorkenebb
Fra: géranium des prés
Swe: kykäkurjenpolvi, ängsnäva
Fin: kykäkurjenpolvi
Cym: garanbig y weirglodd, pig aran y weirglodd, pig garan y weirglodd, pig yr aran y weirglodd, pig-yr-aran weir-glawdd, pig-yr-aran y weirglodd
En: Meadow crane’s-bill, Meadow geranium, Шык гераны
Ar: غرنوقي مرجي
Ba: Туғай яраны
Bg: Син здравец
Ca: Agulles, Candelers, Forquetes, Gerani de prat
Zh: 草原老鹳草
Kw: Gelvin garan pras
Cs: Kakost luční
Da: Eng-Storkenæb
Nl: Beemdooievaarsbek, Weide-ooievaarsbek
Et: Aas-kurereha
Fi: Kyläkurjenpolvi, Kykäkurjenpolvi
Fr: Geranium des pres, Géranium des prés
De: Wiesen-Storchschnabel, Wiesenstorchschnabel
Hu: Mezei gólyaorr
Is: Garðablágresi
Ga: Crobh gorm
It: Geranio dei prati
Lv: Pļavas gandrene, Pļavas gerānija, Pļavas ģerānija
Lt: Pievinis snaputis
No: Engstorkenebb, Engeflock
Nb: Engstorkenebb
Nn: Engstorkenebb
Os: Калмгæрдæг
Pl: Bodziszek łąkowy
Ru: Герань луговая, Журавельник луговой
Sk: Pakost lúčny
Es: Geranio de prado, Geranio quinto, Pico de cigüeña quinto
Sv: Ängsnäva, Kykäkurjenpolvi
Zh-tw: 草原老鸛草
Zh-hant: 草原老鸛草
Uk: Герань лучна
Cy: Pig-yr-aran y weirglodd, Garanbig y Weirglodd, Pig Aran y Weirglodd, Pig Garan y Weirglodd, Pig yr Aran y Weirglodd, Pig-yr-Aran Weir-Glawdd

Synonyms

• Geranium pratense f. lanigera (Coste ex Sennen)
• Geranium pratense var. albiflorum (Gaudin)
• Geranium pratense var. lilacinum (Čelak.)
• Geranium pratense f. leucanthemum (B.Boivin)
• Geranium sylvaticum var. batrachioides ((Cav.) DC.)
• Geranium valde-pilosum (Schur ex Nyman)
• Geranium pratense var. stewartianum (Y.J.Nasir)
• Geranium pratense var. schmidii (Y.J.Nasir)
• Geranium pratense var. litwinowii (Woronow)
• Geranium pratense subsp. stewartianum (Y.J.Nasir)
• Geranium rovirae (Sennen)
• Geranium pratense var. pubescens (Regel)
• Geranium pratense var. parviflorum (Regel)
• Geranium pratense var. plenum (Regel)
• Geranium pratense var. pallidum (Regel)
• Geranium pratense var. album (Regel)
• Geranium pratense var. tenuisectum (Regel)
• Geranium pratense var. vineale (Klett & Richt.)
• Geranium rovirae var. purpureum (Sennen)
• Geranium kemulariae (Kharadze)
• Geranium pratense var. rubrum (Regel)
• Geranium acknerianum (Schur)
• Geranium napellifolium (Schur)
• Geranium mariae (Sennen)
• Geranium pinetophilum (R.Knuth)
• Geranium pratense f. albiflorum (Q.Zhu & J.Wang)
• Geranium coelestinum (Schur)
• Geranium alpinum (Kit. ex Kanitz)

Distribution

• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Poland (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Romania (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Alberta (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Ireland (introduced)
• Labrador (introduced)
• Magadan (introduced)
• Maine (introduced)
• Manitoba (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Minnesota (introduced)
• New Brunswick (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Newfoundland (introduced)
• Nova Scotia (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Prince Edward I. (introduced)
• Québec (introduced)
• Saskatchewan (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Jul 22, 2018 by luciana urbani (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2018 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Aleksandra ***** (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 16, 2017 by Rosnicka Zabakova (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 30, 2018 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 10, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 24, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 7, 2020 by Arribas Adrià (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2021 by Irmgard Groß (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 8, 2018 by Luis A. Rojas (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jun 6, 2021 by pouradr (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 20, 2021 by Christopher Bishop (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2007 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2007 (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jun 19, 2007 by EOL − Chicago Botanic Garden 2007 (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Aug 16, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Aug 24, 2019 by Ondřej Jokerrr83 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 17, 2022 by Wolfgang Klesper (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 27, 2021 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 24, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Oct 2, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 24, 2022 by David Hocken (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 26, 2005 by Andrew Gagg (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 28, 2020 by Sebastian Kraft (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jun 9, 2019 by Enno Huttenga (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 22, 2019 by Natacha Ouellet (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2022 by Caw Vus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by cscoq (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 6, 2020 by gwen gol (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:322493-2)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2891304)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Geranium pratense L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.0

Ph minimum: 6.5

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 6

Soil nutriments: 6