Cut-leaved cranesbil

Geranium dissectum

Geranium dissectum, commonly known as cut-leaved cranesbill or lacy geranium, is a herbaceous perennial plant in the Geraniaceae family. Here's a detailed description:

Botanical Description:

  1. Habit:

    • Cut-leaved cranesbill is a low-growing perennial with a spreading and trailing habit. It forms a dense mat of foliage.

  2. Leaves:

    • The leaves are deeply dissected and palmately lobed, giving them a lacy or fern-like appearance. The foliage is typically green but can display reddish hues.

  3. Stems:

    • The stems are slender and may sprawl along the ground or over other plants.

  4. Flowers:

    • The flowers are typically pink to lilac or lavender, occasionally white. They have five petals and are about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 4 cm) in diameter.
    • Blooms have darker veins, adding to the overall visual appeal.

  5. Blooming Period:

    • Cut-leaved cranesbill produces flowers from late spring to early summer and may continue sporadically throughout the summer.

  6. Fruit:

    • After flowering, the plant forms distinctive beak-like seed capsules, which resemble the bill of a crane. These capsules are characteristic of the Geranium genus.

Identification Tips:

  • Deeply Cut Leaves:

    • The deeply dissected and palmately lobed leaves give the plant a lacy or fern-like texture.

  • Distinctive Flowers:

    • Look for the pink to lilac or lavender flowers with darker veins.

  • Cranesbill Seed Capsules:

    • The seed capsules, resembling the beak of a crane, are a key identifying feature.

Uses:

  • Ornamental:
    • Cut-leaved cranesbill is popular in gardens and landscapes for its ornamental value. It is often used as ground cover or in rock gardens.

Cultivation:

  • Soil and Sun:

    • It prefers well-draining soil and can tolerate both full sun and partial shade.

  • Propagation:

    • Propagation is commonly done through seeds or division of established clumps.

Caution:

  • Invasiveness:
    • While it is not typically considered invasive, cut-leaved cranesbill can spread and naturalize in suitable conditions. Monitor its growth in a garden setting.