Wood Crane's-bill

Common Name: Wood Crane’s-bill

Latin Name: Geranium sylvaticum

Family: Geraniaceae

Easily confused with meadow crane’s-bill (Geranium pratense), wood crane’s-bill differs in colour and leaf shape. Wood crane’s-bill is a large plant with pinkish-blue flowers and less dissected leaves than those of the meadow crane’s-bill.

Confusingly, the wood crane’s-bill is mainly a plant of meadows in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, although it can also be found in pastures, native broadleaf woodlands and road verges at lower altitudes. Wood crane’s-bill meadows are internationally recognised and are some of the least agriculturally improved meadows in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Wood crane’s-bill is an impressive sight in flower and can be seen in some species-rich meadows tinged with the pink flowers in upper Swaledale in June.