Herb Robert

The lovely Herb-Robert (Geranium robertianum) has planted itself all around our garden, from flower beds and plant pots to cracks in the pavement and gaps near the door sills. It's a typical wild geranium — an annual (occasionally biennial) with delicate pink flowers, and pungeant foliage. The deeply cut leaves, which go red in the sun or on older plants, are distinctive. The Royal Horticultural Society rates it as a bit of a weed, due to its habit of explosively flinging its abundant, small seeds in all directions; it has certainly spread itself around the property since we moved in! It is found in a variety of habitats, but prefers shady areas and typically doesn't occur on acid soils. It flowers from May to September.

Herb-Robert is native to most of Europe (though missing from the extreme north), and has been introduced to eastern North America and western Washington state. It is reputedly named for a French abbot and herbalist, Robert of Molesme, who lived around the turn of the first millenium. He undoubtedly used the plant medicinally; it was prescribed to treat diarrhea and to control bleeding, and may also repel insects. Perhaps it's working — we have little problem with mosquitoes and fleas here!