Geranium sanguineum

Details Top

Internal ID UUID64401df136ceb360032634
Scientific name Geranium sanguineum
Authority L.
First published in Sp. Pl. : 683 (1753)

Ethnobotanical Use Top

Write a new one!
No ethnobotanical data added yet. Help us by writing one.

General Uses Top

Suggest a correction!

Common products:
- Geranium sanguineum is widely commercialised as an ornamental garden plant. It is offered by nurseries in several forms: container‑grown mature plants, bare‑root divisions, rooted cuttings and seedling plugs. The species is marketed under the common name “bloody cranesbill” and appears in catalogues of major horticultural suppliers in Europe and North America. In the landscape sector it is used as a low‑maintenance groundcover, as a border or edging plant, and as a component of rock‑garden and alpine plantings; municipalities employ it for public‑right‑of‑way plantings because its spreading habit stabilises soil on slopes. The foliage, with its deeply lobed leaves that retain a green to bronze hue, provides texture throughout the growing season. Cut stems bearing the characteristic pink‑magenta flowers are harvested for the cut‑flower trade; the long‑lasting blooms are valued in mixed bouquets and floral arrangements. After flowering the plant produces elongated seed capsules that persist into winter; these dried seed heads are collected by craft producers for use in wreath‑making, dried‑flower displays and other decorative craft projects, extending the plant’s commercial value beyond the growing season.

Properties relevant to use:
- Geranium sanguineum is rated hardy in USDA zones 3–8 (European equivalents), allowing cultivation in a broad climatic range. It tolerates a variety of well‑drained soils, from sandy to loamy, and performs in both full sun and partial shade, a flexibility that reduces site preparation costs. The species spreads via robust rhizomes, forming a dense mat that suppresses weed emergence and provides erosion control, which is advantageous for low‑maintenance landscaping. Its foliage is semi‑evergreen in milder regions, offering year‑round visual interest. The persistent seed heads are structurally stable, retaining form after drying, which makes them suitable for craft applications. The plant exhibits low susceptibility to common pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical inputs in production and maintenance. These physical and physiological traits collectively underpin its widespread adoption in ornamental horticulture, cut‑flower production, and craft‑material supply.

Synonyms Top

Scientific name Authority First published in
Geranium grandiflorum Gilib. Fl. Lit. Inch. ii. 174. 1782
Geranium lancastriense Mill. Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : n.º 4 (1768)
Geranium prostratum Cav. Diss. 4: 196 (1787)
Geranium sanguineiforme Rouy & Foucaud Fl. France 4: 86 (1897)
Geranium sanguineum f. villosum Pamp. Boll. Mus. Republ. San Marino 4(3-4): 116. 1920
Geranium sanguineum var. majus Gray
Geranium sanguineum var. lancastriense (Mill.) Gray
Geranium sanguineum var. elatius Lej.
Geranium sanguineum var. album Jekyll & E.T.Cook
Geranium sanguineum subsp. sanguineiforme Rouy
Geranium sanguineum var. striatum Weston
Geranium sanguineum var. angustilobum Sennen
Geranium sanguineum var. biflorum Rozeira
Geranium sanguineum var. erectum Weston
Geranium sanguineum f. grandiflorum Font Quer
Geranium sanguineum var. incisum Weston
Geranium sanguineum var. prostratum (Cav.) Willd.
Geranium sanguineum var. sanguineiforme (Rouy) P.Fourn.

Common names Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!

Language Common/alternative name
English bloody crane's-bill
Spanish aguja sangrienta
Spanish geranio de sangre
Spanish pico de cigüeña
Arabic غرنوق دموي
Arabic إبرة الراعي الدموية
Azerbaijani qırmızı ətirşah
Belarusian Герань крывава-чырвоная
Belarusian мужчынскі залатнічок
Belarusian дуброўка лясная
Belarusian дубровіца
Belarusian воўча стапа
Bulgarian кървавочервен здравец
Czech kakost krvavý
Welsh pig-yr-aran ruddgoch
Danish blodrød storkenæb
German blut-storchschnabel
German blutroter storchschnabel
Greek Γεράνιο το αιματόχρωο
Estonian verev kurereha
Finnish verikurjenpolvi
French géranium sanguin
French herbe à becquet
Irish crobh dearg
Croatian crvena iglica
Upper Sorbian krejojta pyskawa
Hungarian piros gólyaorr
Indonesian kerenyam darah
Italian geranio sanguigno
Japanese フウロソウ属
Lithuanian raudonžiedis snaputis
Latvian asinssārtā gandrene
Norwegian Bokmål blodstorkenebb
Dutch bloedooievaarsbek
Norwegian Nynorsk blodstorkenebb
Polish bodziszek czerwony
Polish bodziszek krwisty
Portuguese gerânio-sanguíneo
Portuguese bico-de-grou-sanguíneo
Russian Герань кроваво-красная
Russian Герань кровяно-красная
Russian Волчья стопа
Slovak pakost krvavý
Slovenian krvavordeča krvomočnica
Swedish jungfrunäva
Swedish blodnäva
Turkish sardunya
Turkish kanlı turnagagası
Ukrainian Герань криваво-червона
Chinese 血红老鸛草
Chinese 血红老鹳草

Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subspecies added yet.

Varieties (abbr. var.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No variety added yet.

Subvarieties (abbr. subvar.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No subvariety added yet.

Forms (abbr. f.) Top

Add a new one! Suggest a correction!
No forms added yet.

Germination/Propagation Top

Suggest a correction or add new data!
Sow seeds directly at 4°C.
Requires Darkness: These seeds need to be covered with soil or otherwise kept in the dark to germinate properly. Light inhibits their germination process.

Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top

No distribution data was extracted from POWO/KEW yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.

Links to other databases Top

Suggest others/fix!
Database ID/link to page
World Flora Online wfo-0000701279
Canadensys 6051
USDA Plants GESA2
Tropicos 13900047
INPN 100149
Flora of Italy 2810
KEW urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:322494-2
The Plant List kew-2824000
Missouri Botanical Garden 280851
Open Tree Of Life 793709
NCBI Taxonomy 70270
NBN Atlas NBNSYS0000003153
Nature Serve 2.131297
IPNI 373620-1
iNaturalist 129853
GBIF 2890920
Freebase /m/057xn2b
EPPO GERSA
EOL 346175
Elurikkus 4897
Calflora (Californian flora) 12530
USDA GRIN 446
Wikipedia Geranium_sanguineum

Genomes (via NCBI) Top

Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
Accession Assembly
Name Level Submitter Released Coverage Size
GCA_036897985.1 ASM3689798v1 Contig The University of Texas at Austin 2024-02-28 5.5 195.21 Mb

Scientific Literature Top

Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Title Authors Publication Released IDs
Genome copy number predicts extreme evolutionary rate variation in plant mitochondrial DNA Zwonitzer KD, Tressel LG, Wu Z, Kan S, Broz AK, Mower JP, Ruhlman TA, Jansen RK, Sloan DB, Havird JC Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 01-Mar-2024
PMCID:PMC10927533
doi:10.1073/pnas.2317240121
PMID:38427600
Emerging Therapeutic Potential of Polyphenols from Geranium sanguineum L. in Viral Infections, Including SARS-CoV-2 Abarova S, Alexova R, Dragomanova S, Solak A, Fagone P, Mangano K, Petralia MC, Nicoletti F, Kalfin R, Tancheva L Biomolecules 19-Jan-2024
PMCID:PMC10812934
doi:10.3390/biom14010130
PMID:38275759
Latin American Plants against Microorganisms Cuevas-Cianca SI, Romero-Castillo C, Gálvez-Romero JL, Sánchez-Arreola E, Juárez ZN, Hernández LR Plants (Basel) 28-Nov-2023
PMCID:PMC10708099
doi:10.3390/plants12233997
PMID:38068631
The most polyphagous insect herbivore? Host plant associations of the Meadow spittlebug, Philaenus spumarius (L.) Thompson V, Harkin C, Stewart AJ PLoS One 04-Oct-2023
PMCID:PMC10602594
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0291734
PMID:37792900
Cinnamon Oil-Loaded Nanoliposomes with Potent Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities Ellboudy NM, Elwakil BH, Shaaban MM, Olama ZA Molecules 01-Jun-2023
PMCID:PMC10254904
doi:10.3390/molecules28114492
PMID:37298980
A systemic review on medicinal plants and their bioactive constituents against avian influenza and further confirmation through in-silico analysis Dutta AK, Gazi MS, Uddin SJ Heliyon 10-Mar-2023
PMCID:PMC10011005
doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14386
PMID:36925514
Crocus speciosus (Iridaceae)—A New Species for the Bulgarian Flora Apostolova-Kuzova E, Stoyanov K, Raycheva T, Naimov S Plants (Basel) 17-Feb-2023
PMCID:PMC9965344
doi:10.3390/plants12040932
PMID:36840280
Antiviral Potential of Natural Resources against Influenza Virus Infections Eichberg J, Maiworm E, Oberpaul M, Czudai-Matwich V, Lüddecke T, Vilcinskas A, Hardes K Viruses 05-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9693975
doi:10.3390/v14112452
PMID:36366550
Scrub encroachment promotes biodiversity in temperate European wetlands under eutrophic conditions Brunbjerg AK, Fløjgaard C, Frøslev TG, Andersen DK, Bruun HH, Dalby L, Goldberg I, Lehmann LJ, Moeslund JE, Ejrnæs R Ecol Evol 01-Nov-2022
PMCID:PMC9627074
doi:10.1002/ece3.9445
PMID:36340817
Diversification linked to larval host plant in the butterfly Eumedonia eumedon Hinojosa JC, Montiel‐Pantoja C, Sanjurjo‐Franch M, Martínez‐Pérez I, Lee KM, Mutanen M, Vila R Mol Ecol 27-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC10092595
doi:10.1111/mec.16728
PMID:36214081
An Overview on the Use of Extracts from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants to Improve Nutritional Value and Oxidative Stability of Vegetable Oils Gharby S, Oubannin S, Ait Bouzid H, Bijla L, Ibourki M, Gagour J, Koubachi J, Sakar EH, Majourhat K, Lee LH, Harhar H, Bouyahya A Foods 18-Oct-2022
PMCID:PMC9601662
doi:10.3390/foods11203258
PMID:37431007
A Review with Updated Perspectives on the Antiviral Potentials of Traditional Medicinal Plants and Their Prospects in Antiviral Therapy Saifulazmi NF, Rohani ER, Harun S, Bunawan H, Hamezah HS, Nor Muhammad NA, Azizan KA, Ahmed QU, Fakurazi S, Mediani A, Sarian MN Life (Basel) 22-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9410304
doi:10.3390/life12081287
PMID:36013466
Biodiversity in Urban Areas: The Extraordinary Case of Appia Antica Regional Park (Rome, Italy) Iamonico D Plants (Basel) 15-Aug-2022
PMCID:PMC9414419
doi:10.3390/plants11162122
PMID:36015425
Floral Scents and Fruit Aromas: Functions, Compositions, Biosynthesis, and Regulation Mostafa S, Wang Y, Zeng W, Jin B Front Plant Sci 10-Mar-2022
PMCID:PMC8961363
doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.860157
PMID:35360336
Sodium-enriched floral nectar increases pollinator visitation rate and diversity Finkelstein CJ, CaraDonna PJ, Gruver A, Welti EA, Kaspari M, Sanders NJ Biol Lett 02-Mar-2022
PMCID:PMC8889166
doi:10.1098/rsbl.2022.0016
PMID:35232272

Phytochemical Profile Top

Add a new one!
Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
You can also contribute to this by clicking here.
Name PubChem ID Canonical SMILES MW Found in Proof
> Benzenoids / Benzene and substituted derivatives / Benzoic acids and derivatives / Hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives / Gallic acid and derivatives / Gallic acids
Gallic Acid 370 Click to see 170.12 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638415
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Biflavonoids and polyflavonoids
[5-[(2R,3S,4S)-4-[(2S,3R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-8-[(2R,3S,4R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-yl]-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl]-2,3-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]phenyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 162842814 Click to see 1339.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
[5-[8-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-4-yl]-4-[2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-8-yl]-3,5,7-trihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromen-2-yl]-2,3-bis[(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxy]phenyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 162842813 Click to see 1339.10 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
Procyanidin B2, (+)- 122738 Click to see C1C(C(OC2=C1C(=CC(=C2C3C(C(OC4=CC(=CC(=C34)O)O)C5=CC(=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O)O)C6=CC(=C(C=C6)O)O)O 578.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins
2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol 1203 Click to see 290.27 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
Catechin 9064 Click to see 290.27 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols
Kaempferol 5280863 Click to see 286.24 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638415
Quercetin 5280343 Click to see 302.23 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638415
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides
Rutin 5280805 Click to see 610.50 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638415
> Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins
[(10R,11S,12R,13S,15R)-11,13-bis[[3,4-dihydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxybenzoyl]oxy]-3,4,5,21,22,23-hexahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-12-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 163028160 Click to see 1242.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
[11,13-Bis[[3,4-dihydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoyl)oxybenzoyl]oxy]-3,4,5,21,22,23-hexahydroxy-8,18-dioxo-9,14,17-trioxatetracyclo[17.4.0.02,7.010,15]tricosa-1(23),2,4,6,19,21-hexaen-12-yl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 163028159 Click to see C1C2C(C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C3=CC(=C(C(=C3)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)O)O)O)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)OC(=O)C7=CC(=C(C(=C7)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C8=CC(=C(C(=C8C9=C(C(=C(C=C9C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O 1242.90 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291537
[5-[5-[(9,10,11,14,15,16,27,28,29,32,33,34-Dodecahydroxy-6,19,24,37-tetraoxo-2,5,20,23,38-pentaoxaheptacyclo[19.18.0.04,22.07,12.013,18.025,30.031,36]nonatriaconta-7,9,11,13,15,17,25,27,29,31,33,35-dodecaen-3-yl)oxycarbonyl]-2,3-dihydroxyphenoxy]carbonyl-2,3-dihydroxyphenyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 163060559 Click to see C1C2C3C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C7=CC(=C(C(=C7C8=C(C(=C(C=C8C(=O)O3)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C9=CC(=C(C(=C9C2=C(C(=C(C=C2C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O 1240.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638415
[5-[5-[[(1R,3S,4R,21R,22S)-9,10,11,14,15,16,27,28,29,32,33,34-dodecahydroxy-6,19,24,37-tetraoxo-2,5,20,23,38-pentaoxaheptacyclo[19.18.0.04,22.07,12.013,18.025,30.031,36]nonatriaconta-7,9,11,13,15,17,25,27,29,31,33,35-dodecaen-3-yl]oxycarbonyl]-2,3-dihydroxyphenoxy]carbonyl-2,3-dihydroxyphenyl] 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate 163060560 Click to see C1C2C3C(C(C(O2)OC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C(=C4)OC(=O)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)OC(=O)C6=CC(=C(C(=C6)O)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C7=CC(=C(C(=C7C8=C(C(=C(C=C8C(=O)O3)O)O)O)O)O)O)OC(=O)C9=CC(=C(C(=C9C2=C(C(=C(C=C2C(=O)O1)O)O)O)O)O)O 1240.80 unknown https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00638415

Gallery Top

We don't have an image yet. Upload an image!

Contributors Top

No known contributors. Be the first!

Collections Top

In private collections 0
In public collections 0
You need to be authenticated in order to add this taxon to a personal collection.