This violet-blue wildflower, geranium pratense, is also commonly found as a garden geranium. As it is nectar rich it is very popular with many species of bee. Flowers can be seen from June to August, and the stems take on a reddish tinge in autumn
The name crane’s-bill comes from the shape of the pointed seed pods the plant produces after flowering, which is also from where the genus name geranium is derived – geranos is Greek for Crane.
Other names include ‘Jingling Johnny’, ‘blue basins’, ‘gipsy’, ‘grace of God’ and ‘Loving Andrews’. In Scandinavia it is known as the Midsummer Flower, or Midsommar Blomster as it is always in flower for the midsummer celebration