cut-leaved crane's-bill.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Annual herb

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 3 to 7 days

Mature size

1 to 2 feet

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 4 to 9

Bloom time

Late spring to mid summer

Care

This plant is quite hardy and doesn't need much fuss. Just keep an eye on its spread since it drops seeds readily. If it starts looking messy, you can pull it back to keep your space tidy.

Watering

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Feeding

A light application of balanced fertilizer helps during the growing season.

Pruning

Trim back spent flowers to prevent excessive self seeding.

Repotting

Since it is an annual, you will likely start fresh from seeds each year.

Soil

Well drained loamy soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperature

-15 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered non toxic but may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Children

The plant is not inherently dangerous to children, but ingestion should be discouraged.

Contact allergens

The glandular hairs on the stems can cause mild contact dermatitis in sensitive people.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is not considered a significant allergen.

Edibility

This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

• Deeply divided palmate leaves
• Small pink to purple flowers
• Hairy stems and foliage
• Beak shaped seed pods

Height

0.1 to 0.4m

Spread

0.15 to 0.3m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

pink, purple, 0.5 to 1cm

Fruit

brown, Summer

Common problems

• Aphids — Small sap sucking insects that cluster on new growth.

Growing it

Propagation

seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Plant in areas where you want a natural, informal look as it tends to spread.

Grows well with

• Common Daisy — They share similar moisture requirements and look lovely in a meadow setting.
• Red Clover — They grow well together in open, sunny patches.

Similar species

• Dovefoot Geranium — It has similar growth habits but rounder, less deeply cut leaves.

Science

Family

Geraniaceae

Genus

Geranium

Order

Geraniales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.

Conservation

This species is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in disturbed habitats and open grasslands where it can quickly colonize bare soil.

Value to wildlife

nectar source

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ground cover, wildflower meadow

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this a perennial?

It is typically an annual or biennial.

Does it spread easily?

Yes, it produces many seeds that germinate readily in open soil.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Geranium comes from the Greek word geranos, meaning crane, referring to the beak like fruit. The species name dissectum describes the deeply cut or dissected leaf blades.

Good to know

• The name dissectum refers to the deeply divided, fern like leaves.
• It is often found growing in lawns and waste areas.
• The seeds are ejected forcefully from the capsule when ripe.