Botanical name: Geranium pratense 
Folk names: Jingling Johnny, blue basins

Type: Perennial

Flowers: Mid June and July

Decorative merit: Saucer-shaped, violet-blue flowers about 4cm wide, with dark crimson veins that act as nectar guides for bees. Flowers are carried in small clusters above long stalks with deeply divided leaves. Forms an attractive clump. In autumn, the foliage turns an attractive russet colour. 30-80cm high.

Where: Sun. Middle of a border, mini meadows or wilder areas in well-drained soil.

Wildlife: Nectar in the ‘June gap’ for short, medium and long-tongued bumblebees including early, bufff-tailed and red-tailed bumblebees  and common carder bees. I see leafcutter bees making a beeline for mine each year!

Folklore: Affection for this plant dates to pre-Elizabethan times.  It was believed picking them would cause thunder and a downpour. Its name comes from beak-like seed pods.

Seeds to Exeter Seed Bank