Plant · GBIF taxon 2891079
Rock Crane's-bill
Geranium macrorrhizumAlso known as Bigroot Geranium, Bulgarian Geranium, Zdravetz
Rock crane's-bill spreads vigorously across rocky alpine slopes and woodland margins via thick, creeping rhizomes that give the plant its botanical name. Crushing its deeply lobed foliage releases a potent, musky perfume long prized in European perfumery under the name zdravetz oil. Clusters of vivid magenta to soft pink blossoms rise on reddish stems in late spring, attracting solitary bees while remaining remarkably unpalatable to browsing herbivores.
PerennialAromaticGroundcover
Licensed referenceno rights reserved, uploaded by Peter Gabler · cc0
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
- Slugs and snails
- Spider mites
- Vine weevils
ThreatsHabitat destruction, quarrying, and competition from aggressive invasive weeds
HabitatsRocky limestone slopes, subalpine scree, and open montane woodlands
Life spanPerennial (typically 10–20+ years)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderGeraniales
- FamilyGeraniaceae
- GenusGeranium
- SpeciesGeranium macrorrhizum
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Scent Sampling: Gently rub the soft foliage between your fingers to release its distinctive balsamic fragrance without damaging the stem.
- Foliage Examination: Look beneath the dense foliage mat to observe the thick, woody rhizomes anchoring into rocky crevices.
- Bloom Timing: Watch for peak flowering in late spring when prominent stamens project outward beyond the petals.
Pollinator Andreas Trepte / CC BY-SA 2.5 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Ivar Leidus, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Image unavailableClose Relative 
Close Relative (c) Gilles San Martin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Gilles San Martin · cc-by-sa
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