Geranium palustre

The Marsh Cranesbill, also known as the Marsh Geranium, is a botanical species that hides a conquering temperament behind its apparent shyness, revealed by its upright habit. Its bright flowers, deep pink to purplish, adorn its deeply cut, vivid green foliage throughout the summer, abundantly sprinkled with small lighter dots, and then take on pretty reddish hues in autumn. At ease in wet areas, it is ideal for embellishing water features, wet rockeries, or decorating beds in marshy terrain.

The Marsh Cranesbill belongs to the family of Geraniaceae. It originates from the marshy and wet meadows of central Europe, from Sweden to Turkey, as well as western Asia. This very hardy perennial is rarely observed because its habitat is often inaccessible and not sought after by humans. It forms an upright clump of deciduous foliage, reaching a height of 30 to 50 cm (12 to 20in) when in flower, and a width of 40 cm (16in). It has a dense and erect habit. The flowering period takes place in July-August, and then, more sporadically, in September-October. The flower is bright and clearly visible against the foliage. It measures 2.5 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, and is coloured in deep and vivid pink, sometimes veined with purple. The flowers are arranged in clusters along slender, creeping, and villous floral stems, forming a crown around the plant, and stand out distinctly from the foliage. The leaves are highly cut, and change color in autumn. This species shows an adaptive feature to a wet environment; the roots of its creeping rootstock, the stems, and leaves are rich in calcium oxalate crystals, a very hard and insoluble mineral in water, and an irritant that gives it its upright habit and protects it from herbivores.

The Marsh Geranium has long been appreciated in gardens, where it has sometimes escaped and naturalized in the surroundings. Its long flowering period is an asset in organic gardens, as it attracts pollinators and beneficial insects. It prefers wet situations, making it suitable for ornamenting water features. However, it can tolerate drier situations if the soil remains moist and it is planted in partial shade. It is a good long-term ground cover, ideal for bringing life to a wild garden or a countryside bed. In wet soil, it pairs well with ferns, hostas, willowherbs, and Cape lilies. At the edge of woodlands, it will go well with lungworts in pastel tones.