Cranesbill is one the bulk dried herbs for sale that are actually not "herbs" in the technical sense. As is the case of with many herbs, the useful part of the plant may not necessarily be the "herbaceous" part, but rather the root, the flowering tops, and in some cases even the seeds. Cranesbill is most highly regarded for its roots.

Cranesbill Root comes from a species of garden-variety Geranium, which goes by the scientific name of Geranium maculatum. Native to the eastern woodlands of North America, Geranium maculatum is a perennial flower that grows in the wild and under cultivation as well. The part of the plant that is desired, the Cranesbill Root, must be harvested in late February or March before the signature purple flowers appear, since this is when the tannic acid in Cranesbill Root is at its most potent levels.