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Shining Crane's-bill

Geranium lucidum

The Shining Crane's-bill is a lovely little plant with bright green leaves and pretty flowers. It loves to grow in sunny spots and can often be found in gardens and meadows.

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Shining Crane's-bill has distinctive, glossy, deep green leaves often tinged with vibrant red. Its small, five-petaled flowers are bright pink to purplish-red, appearing singly or in pairs. The slender stems are frequently reddish, making it stand out.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGeranialesFamilyGeraniaceaeGenusGeranium
Shining Crane's-bill
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgeornamental trait badgefragrant_flower trait badge
Shining Crane's-bill

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

2

Interesting facts

It often turns fiery red in autumn or bright sun, putting on a colorful show.

Its unique fruit looks just like a tiny bird's beak, hence its quirky name!

Some people call it a 'sticky geranium' because its stems feel slightly fuzzy.

This plant can grow in cracks of walls and rocks, seemingly without much soil!

Special abilities

Ability

Seed Flinger

Shining Crane's-bill has a 'crane's beak' fruit that explosively flings seeds far away for dispersal.

Ability

Shiny Sun Shield

Its incredibly glossy leaves help reflect harsh sunlight, protecting the plant from drying out and overheating.

Ability

Red Defender

The plant can turn its leaves and stems bright red, which acts like a natural sunscreen against intense light.

Measurements & details

Height
10-40 cm
Spread
15-30 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season
Spring-early summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Biennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Visits flowers to collect nectar and pollen.

pollinates

Buff-tailed Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

An important pollinator, attracted to its pink blooms.

eaten by

Garden Snail

Helix aspersa

Snails often graze on its leaves and stems.

eaten by

Spanish Slug

Arion vulgaris

Slugs can feed on its foliage, especially young plants.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants without asking an adult.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Shining Crane's-bill?

The easiest way to identify Shining Crane's-bill is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is Shining Crane's-bill?

10-40 cm

How wide does Shining Crane's-bill spread?

15-30 cm

How big are the flowers on Shining Crane's-bill?

0.5-1 cm

When does Shining Crane's-bill bloom?

Spring-early summer

Is Shining Crane's-bill edible?

No

Is Shining Crane's-bill toxic?

None

What is Shining Crane's-bill's lifecycle?

Biennial

Snap Map

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