Wild Geranium.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Perennial

Light

Partial shade to full shade

Indoor light

Medium light

Water

Every 5 to 10 days

Mature size

2 feet tall

Growth rate

Medium

Hardiness

USDA 3 to 8

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Care

Plant this in well draining soil that stays consistently moist but not soggy. Keep an eye out for wilting during dry spells, as it prefers to stay hydrated. Mulching around the base helps keep the roots cool and preserves soil moisture.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist but avoid letting it sit in standing water.

Feeding

A light application of compost in the spring is usually all it needs.

Pruning

Trim back the foliage after flowering if the plant starts to look a bit tired.

Repotting

Divide the clumps every few years to keep the plant vigorous and healthy.

Soil

Rich, moist, well draining soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperature

-35 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 70%

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered non-toxic, though the high tannin content makes it unpalatable.

Children

There are no specific safety concerns for children, but it is always best to discourage eating wild plants.

Contact allergens

Contact with the foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The pollen is not considered a significant airborne allergen.

Edibility

While historically used in herbal medicine, this plant contains tannins that can cause stomach upset if ingested in quantity.

How to identify it

• Five petaled pink to lavender flowers
• Deeply lobed palm shaped leaves
• Hairy stems and foliage
• Seed pods resembling a cranes bill

Height

0.3 to 0.6m

Spread

0.3 to 0.45m

Leaves

green, deciduous

Flowers

pink, lavender, white, 2 to 4cm

Fruit

brown, Summer

Common problems

• Powdery mildew — A white fungal growth on leaves often caused by poor air circulation.

Growing it

Propagation

division, seed

When to plant

spring, autumn

Plant in groups of three or more to create a natural drift effect in shade gardens.

Grows well with

• Columbine — They share similar light and moisture requirements in woodland settings.
• Ferns — Ferns provide a beautiful textural contrast to the geranium foliage.

Similar species

• Herb Robert — A related species with smaller, more deeply cut leaves.

Science

Family

Geraniaceae

Genus

Geranium

Order

Geraniales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Eastern and central North America.

Conservation

This plant is common and secure throughout its native range.

It thrives in the understory of deciduous forests where it benefits from spring light before the canopy closes.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, early season pollen

Pollinators

bees, butterflies, moths

Uses

woodland gardens, shade borders, pollinator habitat

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade and performs best in dappled light.

Is it invasive?

No, it is a well behaved native perennial that spreads slowly.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Geranium comes from the Greek word geranos, meaning crane, referring to the long beak of the fruit. The species name maculatum means spotted, though the leaves are rarely spotted in the wild.

Good to know

• It is commonly called wild cranesbill because the seed pod resembles a crane's beak.
• It is a classic choice for naturalizing in shady woodland areas.
• The leaves often turn a lovely shade of red in the autumn.

Also in

• Plants for shade