Herb Robert
Botanical Name: Geranium robertianum
Family: Cranesbill
Other Names: Bachelor’s buttons, bird’s eye, dragonsblood,
gipsies, gipsy flowers, red robin, red shank, robin’s eye, robin hood, stinking
bob, St Robert’s herb, wren
Habitat: Hedges, woods, old walls, rocks, coasts,
waste grounds, walls
Description: Annual or biennial spreading. 10-45cm/4-20in
Hairy stems that are green tinged with red. Fern shaped leaves, palmately divided
up to 6.5mm the segments are pinnatiscent. Basal leaves are long, 5 leaflets
pink flowers April- November 5 petals, 5 sepals oblong-ovate, 10 stamens, anthers
purple or orange Seeds: long beaked Strong smell
Native to: Europe
Propagation: By division September – March
Harvesting: April-October
Part Used: Whole herb
Actions: Astringent, diuretic, sedative
Constituents: Tannins, bitters, essential oil
Bitter principle geraniin
Circulatory, muscle joint: Blood disorders, leaves
to staunch bleeding
Respiratory: Sore throats
Digestive: Diarrhoea
Other Notes: The name geranium comes from the
Greek geranos meaning crane
Its medieval name was Herba roberti but it is not certain which
Robert it is named for
May have been named after Robin Hood – as it is believed its
brings good luck to those who deserve it and bad luck to those who deserve it
May have been named after the 11th century French
saint Robert, Abbot of Molerne
Associated with fairies and hobgoblins