Geranium macrorrhizum aka Rock Crane's Bill

Geranium macrorrhizum, also known as bigroot geranium, Bulgarian geranium, and rock crane's-bill, is a hardy flowering herbaceous perennial plant in the Geraniaceae family. Native to the South east Alps and the Balkans, this plant is a rhizomatous semi-evergreen perennial that forms a thick, weed-resistant ground cover. It has deeply lobed and rounded grayish-green leaves that emit a strong aroma when crushed. The leaves turn attractive red tones in autumn. In late spring to early summer, long-lasting purple-pink flowers with inflated dark red calyces bloom in clusters above the foliage. There may be sporadic rebloom throughout the summer. The plant is cultivated as an ornamental groundcover in temperate regions, with named cultivars selected for various flower colors including white, pink, and magenta. Some popular cultivars include 'Ingwersen's Variety' and 'White-ness', which have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Geranium macrorrhizum has traditional uses in herbal medicine and its essential oil is used in aromatherapy. It contains various components such as flavonoids, sesquiterpenes, phenolic acids, pigments, vitamins, and mineral salts. One of the components, sesquiterpene ketone germacrone, has shown high antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis. In the Bulgarian language, the name for all types of geraniums is derived from the word "здрав" which means "healthy". Overall, Geranium macrorrhizum is a floriferous carpet-forming perennial that spreads and provides a beautiful ground cover with its aromatic leaves and vibrant flowers.