Botanical Name: Geranium viscosissimum
Family: Geraniaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Geraniales
Genus: Geranium
Species: G. viscosissimum
Synonyms: Geranium attenuilobum G.N. & F.F. Jones
Common Names: Sticky Geranium, Sticky purple geranium
Habitat: Geranium viscosissimum is natiive to western N. America – British Columbia to N. California, east to Alberta. It grows on the open woods and meadows. Plentiful in medium-dry to moist or even wet soils of open woods, roadsides, creek banks and meadows to an altitude of 2,700 metres.
Description:
Geranium viscosissimum is a large, clumped 0.5–3 feet (0.15–0.91 m) tall perennial wild geranium. The stem, leaves, and flower stalks are covered with sticky hairs. The right-green leaves are dissected, many-toothed, and deeply-lobed.
Its bloom period is April to September, depending on elevation and latitude. It has 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) saucer-shaped pink flowers with reddish-purple lines on the petals. They occur in an open cluster near the top of strong, branching 1–2 feet (0.30–0.61 m) flower stalks.
Cultivation:
Succeeds in any good soil in sun or partial shade. Plants are hardy to about -25°c. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits. This species is closely related to G. nervosum.
Propagation:
Seed – sow spring in a cold frame. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. Division in spring or autumn. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Edible Uses:
Flowers – added to salads or used as a garnish. Leaves – raw or cooked. Not choice.
Medicinal Uses:
The whole plant is astringent, salve and styptic. An infusion of the leaves, plus a sweat bath with the leaves, is used as a treatment for colds. It is used as a gargle in the treatment of sore throats. An infusion of the leaves or the roots is used as a wash for sore eyes. A poultice of the leaves or roots has been applied to cuts, sores etc
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium_viscosissimum
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Geranium+viscosissimum
