Meadow geranium

Family Geraniaceae. A plant of meadows, glades, forest edges and light forests of Europe and Central Asia. Cultivated since the late 16th century.

A perennial with a short rhizome. Growth habit bushy, tall, not always erect. Basal leaves numerous, on petioles, persist from April to August. Leaf blade roughly rounded in outline, almost to the base divided into seven rhombic lobes, which in turn are divided into lanceolate segments. Leaves hairy. Stems few, tall, 50-120 cm, covered with hairs. Umbel-like inflorescence. Flowers large, widely open, lilac-blue. Petals rounded. Meadow geranium begins flowering in mid-June and blooms for about 30 days. Numerous seeds ripen in July-August. When sown in autumn, seedlings appear in spring and flower in the second year. Has several dozen garden forms.

Cultivars:
'Flore Pleno' - semi-double form.
'Mrs Kendall Clarc' has lilac-pink flowers with white veins.
'Splish Splash' - a cultivar with mottled bluish flowers.

Meadow geranium is planted in mixed flower beds. It is of particular interest when creating mixed beds that imitate a flowering meadow.