Geranium macrorrhizum - Bigroot Geranium

Family:	Geraniaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	0.5
Width:	0.6
Synonyms:
Range:	C. Europe. A garden escape in Britain in S. Devon.

Geranium macrorrhizum (Bigroot Geranium) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 0.5m and a width of 0.6m . It has a fast growth rate. It has a hardness rating of 4and is vunerable to frost.
Bigroot Geranium will flower in December to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects

Soil Information

Bigroot Geranium will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Bigroot Geranium prefers either dry or moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Bigroot Geranium can grow in full, semi shaded areas and areas with no shade.

Amongst limestone rocks, screes, in woods and scrub to 2100m[187]. Shady places, especially in mountains[50].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Works within dappled Shade
• Grows in a shady edge
• Is suited to a deeply shaded location
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in dry or moist situations, in sun or light shade[187, 200]. Succeeds even in deep shade[208]. Tolerates a wide range of soil types, succeeding in any moderately fertile retentive soil[200]. Calcicole[50]. Established plants are drought resistant[190]. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties[187]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
Aphrodisiac[61].

• Aphrodisiac - Increases the sexual appetite.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Very easy, virtually every bit of a divided plant, whether it has roots or not, will grow away and produce roots[190]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Scented parts of the plants

Leaves : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

The very aromatic leaves have been used in the past as a source of geranium oil[187]. They are used in pot-pourri and perfumery[244]. A good dense ground cover plant[197, 200]. A very effective weed smotherer[187, 190]. Plants grow rampantly, rooting as they spread[208]. They should be spaced about 60cm apart each way[208].

• Essential - Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.
• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.
• Pot-pourri - Aromatic plants used to impart a pleasant smell to an area. Can this be grouped with incense or essential oil?

Cultivars

'' - There are some named forms for this species, but these have been developed for their ornamental value and not for their other uses. Unless you particularly require the special characteristics of any of these cultivars, we would generally recommend that you grow the natural species for its useful properties. We have, therefore, not listed the cultivars in this database[K].

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

Flora Europaea
?
Author: ?
Rating:
Publisher : An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
Date of Publication : 1964

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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