Woodland geranium

Family Geraniaceae. A common plant of forests, glades, and meadows of Europe, Western Siberia, and Central Asia.

A plant with a cluster-type root system and long roots. Growth habit: bushy, tall, spreading in different directions. Stems few, erect, up to 80 cm tall, hairy. Leaves are basal, on long hairy petioles, rounded in outline, divided into seven lobes, with ovate segments, coarsely toothed. Vegetation ends early in August. Flowers are numerous, in a loose inflorescence, two flowers per scape, widely open, lilac-purple or violet, the color may vary. It begins to bloom at the end of May, flowers for about 20 days, seeds ripen in June. Many cultivars of woodland geranium are cultivated.

Varieties of the woodland geranium grow well on moist, loose soils in shade and partial shade. They can be used in mixed flower beds, but in the background, since the leaves already die back in August. Propagated by seeds (sowing before winter) and by dividing the clump in July–August.