Plant Overview
Mounds of low-growing green foliage below masses of the palest pink flowers, with contrasting deep pink stamens, in summer.
Happy in sun or shade. Semi-evergreen.
Loved by bees
Height: 30cm
Common name(s): Cranesbill
Myth and Legend
Apparently, the Prophet Mohammed, whilst resting beside a stream, decided to wash his shirt in the water. Having done so, he spread his shirt out to dry on a bed of mallows that grew close by and then lay down and slept. As he slept, a miraculous transformation occurred. First the mallows blushed with pleasure at having the opportunity to serve the great man. Then, by the time he awoke, the mallows had all been transformed into cranesbills.
Traditionally, cranesbills offer protection against snakes and serpents. Hence the following country rhyme:
Snakes will not go
Where geraniums grow.
Dreaming of geraniums is meant to be a sign that you need not worry about a recent quarrel, as it meant nothing and will soon be forgotten.
Photo Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
