Meadow Cranesbill
Geranium pratense
Full description
Meadow Cranesbill, also known as Field Geranium, is a tall perennial that produces large violet/blue flowers on a leafy stem, usually around 40 to 60m tall. The flowering season extends from late May to September, but peaks in the early months. Many flowers can be produced by one plant and two or three stems will arise from each root stock. Once the root stock is established after 1 or 2 years the flowers are very reliable and persistent.
The Meadow Cranesbill is commonly found on unmanaged calcareous and neutral grasslands and is particularly common on roadside verges subject to an annual cut. It tends to prefer dampish soils of pH 6 to 8 and once established is sustainable in fertile conditions.