The main inhabitant of the temperate zone is theblood-red geranium. It grows well in both deciduous forests and on mountain slopes. In nature, this plant can be found in Central Europe, the Caucasus, the Balkan Peninsula and the European part of Russia. For several centuries, it is popular with gardeners who use it as a real decoration for their flower beds.
Geranium blood-red (Geranium sanguineum)is a perennial shrub up to 60 cm tall with a spherical shape with branched stems that are densely covered with foliage. A distinctive feature of this plant is a powerful knotty rhizome and small hairs covering stems and leaves.
Geranium garden blood-red refers tounpretentious plants that perfectly grow in one place, without requiring transplantation and division, for 10-15 years. Land for planting is selected open and well lit. Soils are preferable loamy, fertile. The short rhizome of this plant usually extends widely to the sides, therefore, planting shrubs, it is necessary to observe a distance of at least 30 centimeters between them. A year later they form a continuous carpet on the surface of the soil. It, as a rule, is so dense that weeds can not grow under its lower leaves.
Thanks to the tenacity of the roots, geranium can be plantedon steep slopes and used to close the voids in the flower beds as a background plant. Geranium is not susceptible to diseases, insect pests scare away its peculiar sharp odor. So, caring for plants is only a timely watering. It must be carried out often at the first time after planting, and then do it as needed. Geranium usually reports a lack of moisture drooping leaves. It is worth planting the plant, as it again takes on its former form.
In the spring or at the end of the season, all the dried up partsplants should be removed. Blood red geranium is resistant to low temperatures, it is very good for winter, and there is no need to cover it for this period. In the spring, during the growing season and before flowering, the plant is fed with mineral fertilizers.
In many ways, you can propagate garden geraniums:seeds, segments of the rhizome. The first method is quite labor-intensive, since it is not easy to assemble ripened seeds that fly off the wind. In addition, with this method of reproduction, the characteristics of the variety may be lost. Most often, gardeners use the second method. Strong young roots are separated from the mother's bush and planted in prepared soil, ensuring sufficient watering. Reproduction is carried out in the spring. Under favorable conditions, the plant can multiply itself by self-seeding. In this case, only in the second year, the geranium will be covered with blood-red flowers.
The work done by breeders led to the appearance of different varieties of this plant. There are about a dozen of them, of which the most popular are:
Striatum. The plant is short-grown - usually no more than 15 cm high, covered with small flowers. The leaves turn lilac in autumn. On light pink flowers there are dark eyes.
Album. It is considered one of the best varieties. Its height can reach 30 cm. It differs in white coloring of flowers, which turn yellow by the end of summer.
Compactum. Blood-red geranium, which is great for decorative decoration of roofs. A very lush plant, whose height is 10-15 cm, is usually grown in vases and rock gardens.
Nana. Another low-growing variety, with flowers of pink color.
Prostratum. This variety is characterized by a particularly long flowering. The flowers have a dark pink color.
Geranium blood-red is used forregistration of group landings in curbs, rockeries and other garden scenery. A very beautiful combination is obtained with neighbors such as bells and a cuff. The geranium bushes serve as a magnificent garden adornment all year round.
But not only decorative properties are famousthis is a plant. Since ancient times there is an opinion that the geranium can protect against the evil eye and attract prosperity. Apply the plant and in the leather industry, preparing from it tannic extracts. It has huge benefits for health. Very popular blood-red geranium as a medicinal plant.
Virtually all of its useful properties areparts - root, leaves, flowers. From them prepare infusions, effective at very many diseases. An infusion prepared from this plant is able to dilate the coronary vessels. It is recommended and with many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it perfectly removes pain when ulcerative lesions of the stomach mucosa. With fractures make special baths with the addition of infusion.
In different countries, geranium finds its application.So, in Moldova, the infusion from the rhizome of this plant is used as an antiseptic solution. They are washed with purulent wounds, rinse the throat with such diseases as tonsillitis, tonsillitis. In Bulgaria, the same infusion is used as an astringent, treat inflammatory skin diseases, dermatoses. In addition, geranium has a soothing effect and improves sleep.
Thus, not only the decoration of the garden, but alsoAssistant in the treatment of various diseases will be geranium blood red. Photos of different varieties of this plant should be carefully studied to choose the plant that will perform the decorative function on your site to the fullest.
