Blood-red geranium

Family Geraniaceae. Occurs wild in the European part of our country, in the Caucasus, in Western and Southern Europe, and the western Mediterranean.

A widely known cultivated plant in various countries. It came from the broad-leaved forests of Western Europe as early as the 16th century (in cultivation since 1597). It differs from other geraniums by having a long, fleshy, nodose rhizome, from which arise rounded leaves deeply divided into linear segments on bristly petioles. The leaves are overwintering, light green, and in autumn some leaves take on a bright red color. The bush of this geranium species is very beautiful. It is tall and has a spherical form rare for geraniums, reaching 60 cm in height. The stems hardly rise above the leaves, and numerous carmine-red flowers up to 4 cm in diameter cover the entire bush. The blood-red geranium blooms for a long time and abundantly, from mid-June to August. Seeds ripen in July–August. The seeds are thin, linear-punctate. Under suitable conditions it self-seeds. Seedlings appear in spring and already bloom in their second year.

Blood-red geranium is a true perennial, capable of flowering and fruiting abundantly without transplanting or division for up to 15 years. The best conditions for growing this geranium are neutral or slightly alkaline soils and partial shade, although it also grows well in sunny locations. An important feature of the blood-red geranium is its consistent ornamental appeal. The geranium clumps are attractive both in early spring, when the overwintered leaves green up, and in summer during flowering, and in autumn. At that time the stems, leaf petioles and lower leaves redden, while the rest of the foliage shines bright green. It is very beautiful!

The variety var. stratum reaches up to 15 cm in height. It flowers with numerous flowers about 2.5 cm in diameter. In autumn the leaves take on a raspberry coloration.