It is typically an annual or biennial.

Does it spread easily?

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

Plant guide

Cut-leaved crane's-bill.

Geranium dissectum

Pronounced jeh-RAY-nee-um dis-SEK-tum

Also known as Cut-leaved Crane's-bill, Cutleaf geranium, cut-leaf crane's-bill, cut-leaf geranium, cut-leaved cranesbill

Geranium dissectum — Photo by Silverado Jim (CC BY) via gbif

This charming little plant is a common sight in fields and along roadsides. It is an annual that spreads easily by seed. You'll find it adds a nice touch of wild texture to a garden.

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

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Root RotUncommon
RustUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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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

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

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.

Keep your cut-leaved crane's-bill growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.