Herbaceous, eastern North American perennial Description: Lavender-pink, five-petaled flowers in spring; aromatic foliage turns burgundy in fall Habit: Forms a spreading groundcover in the garden to 18 inches high and wide Culture: Grow in humus-rich soil and a shady to sunny location; tolerates somewhat dry conditions Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3 In his New England Rarities (1672), John Josselyn called the Wild Geranium "Raven's-Claw," and in 1814 Frederick Pursh noted the name "Alum-root, on account of the astringent taste of the roots." Its name derives from geranos, the Greek word for crane, alluding to the long beak of the seed. While in France in 1786, Thomas Jefferson requested plants of this species from the nursery of Quaker botanist John Bartram, Jr. to share with his many Parisian friends. Wild Geranium grows abundantly in the forests of Monticello today and is not attractive to deer.This plant will ship bare root. Grade: #1.Bare root planting tips: If you can't plant immediately, store your plant in a cool location and keep the roots moist or pot in a container with a nursery potting mix from your local garden center. Before planting, let the roots soak for several hours as you prepare the site. You'll want to dig a large enough hole so the root mass can spread out and the plant is at the same soil level as when it was growing in the nursery. Once planted, water it in well and wait a month before fertilizing. Mulching will help to maintain moisture and raise soil temperatures for faster growth.
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