Carolina cranesbill.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Annual wildflower

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

1 to 2 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Care

This plant is quite self sufficient and prefers to be left alone in sunny spots. Watch for wilting during extreme heat, though it usually recovers quickly. It is best grown in naturalized areas rather than formal beds.

Watering

Water only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Feeding

This plant generally does not require supplemental fertilizer.

Pruning

Remove spent flower stalks if you want to prevent unwanted self seeding.

Repotting

As an annual, this plant completes its life cycle in one season and does not typically require repotting.

Soil

Well draining sandy or loamy soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperature

-20 to 35°C

Humidity

30 to 70%

Drought tolerance

Moderate

Lifespan

Annual, typically 1 year.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

It is not known to be toxic, but it is not intended for human consumption.

Children

The small seeds and foliage pose a minor choking risk if ingested by small children.

Contact allergens

The foliage can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen may cause mild reactions in those with seasonal allergies.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and should be avoided.

How to identify it

• Deeply lobed palmately divided leaves
• Small pale pink to lavender flowers
• Distinctive long beak like seed pods
• Hairy stems and foliage
• Low growing basal rosette habit

Height

0.1 to 0.5m

Spread

0.15 to 0.4m

Leaves

green, reddish, deciduous

Flowers

pink, white, 0.5 to 1cm

Fruit

brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

• Powdery Mildew · White fungal growth appears on leaves during humid weather.

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

fall, spring

Overwintering

As an annual, it will die back completely after setting seed. You can leave the dead foliage to protect the soil or clear it away in late winter.

In containers

It grows well in containers, but ensure the pot has excellent drainage to prevent root rot.

Plant this in areas where you want a low maintenance ground cover that supports early season pollinators.

Grows well with

• Blue-eyed Grass · They share similar light and moisture requirements in meadow gardens.
• Wild Columbine · They provide a nice contrast in height and bloom time.

Similar species

• Herb Robert · It has a similar growth habit but prefers shadier, moister conditions.

Science

Family

Geraniaceae

Genus

Geranium

Order

Geraniales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Most of North America.

Conservation

This species is common and widespread, so it is not of conservation concern.

It colonizes disturbed areas quickly using its explosive seed dispersal mechanism.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

wildflower garden, pollinator habitat, ground cover

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it a weed?

Many gardeners consider it a weed because it spreads easily, but it is a native wildflower.

How do I stop it from spreading?

Remove the plants before the seed pods dry and burst.

Where the name comes from

The name Geranium comes from the Greek word for crane, referring to the long beak of the fruit, while carolinianum indicates its discovery in the Carolinas.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as Carolina cranesbill due to the shape of its seed pods.
• The plant is an annual that completes its life cycle in one season.
• It thrives in poor, rocky soils where other plants struggle.