BOTANICAL NAME: Germanium robertianum
FAMILY: Geraniaceae (Geranium)
COMMON NAME(S): Herb Robert, Stinky Bob, Death-Come-Quickly, Squinter-Pip, Crow’s Foot, Poor Robin
BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION: “It grows as a procumbent (prostrate or trailing) to erect annual or biennial plant, up to fifty centimetres high, producing small, pink, five-petalled flowers (8–14 mm in diameter) from April until the autumn. The leaves are deeply dissected, ternate to palmate, the stems reddish and prominently hairy; where it grows in sunny sites, the leaves also turn crimson red at the end of the flowering season.” (Source)
HABITAT: Widespread in the United States and most of Europe. Edge areas, weedy spaces, empty lots, train tracks, forest floors (conifer and decidious), etc. Considered “invasive” by those who choose to frame plants in that way (more on that soon).
PART(s) USED: Aerial parts (flowers, stems, leaves, seed-heads).
HARVESTING TIPS: Harvest when flowering and stems are plump
PRIMARY ACTIONS: Antimicrobial, antioxidant, tonic, adaptogen, immune system booster, adrenal tonic, antiseptic, astringent, digestive tonic, general tonic, vulnerary. Some research indicates anti-cancer properties.
ENERGETICS: Cooling, Drying
TASTE(S): Pungent, bitter/astringent
MEDICINAL USES: Infusion/decoction, direct edible ingredient, tincture, poultice
CORRESPONDENCES:
Planets: Venus, Mercury
Zodiacal Sign: Aquarius
Element: Water
OTHER USES: Insect repellant, edible as a flavoring agent or potherb, co-planting option for repelling insects, deer, and rabbits.
FOLKLORE:
- Herb Robert has long been associated with Puck, “Robin Goodfellow,” and the Pooka. Its presence indicates a connection to liminality within the most mundane of spaces.
- It was said in Ancient Quatria that a wood nymph named Lyrinwey recognized the resilience of this herb. In awe of its steadfast vitality, the forest daimons bestowed upon Herb Robert the ability to heal and cleanse, to bring balance where there was discord.
- The name ‘Robert’ is believed to honor a monk named Robert of Molesme. As the tale goes, he encountered a deadly fever plaguing his community. Seeking divine aid, he prayed in the forest, where he was guided to Herb Robert. When he used the herb to treat the ailing people, they recovered, hence the name, Herb Robert.
- There is another tale that attributes Herb Robert’s scent to the deeds of a wood sprite. The sprite, eager to deter curious humans from discovering its home amid the Herb Robert, imbued the plant with a strong odor.
- Herb Robert has also been called “Death-comes-quickly,” a name that does not refer to any deadly properties but rather its life cycle. It earned this name due to its ephemeral nature, completing its life cycle and producing seeds that spread easily with the slightest contact or breeze.
Magical Uses:
- Apotropaic Protection, Fertility
- Herb Robert is an herb of Withstanding and protection. Its resilient nature, its ability to thrive where other plants struggle, symbolizes endurance and adaptation. Carrying its leaves with you or having a drawing of it in your sacred space can infuse these qualities into your own life.
- Herb Robert can also assist in the invocation of woodland spirits and beings.
- Many old tales suggest that creating a small nook in your garden or yard filled with Herb Robert can act as an invitation to the “Good Folk.”