Is this plant invasive?

It can be aggressive in gardens due to its prolific seed production.

Does it need much water?

It prefers moderate moisture but tolerates short dry spells once established.

Plant guide

Dovefoot cranesbill.

Geranium molle

Pronounced jeh-RAY-nee-um MOLL-ee

Also known as Awnless Geranium, Crane's-bill Geranium, Dove's-foot Crane's-bill, Dovefoot Crane's-bill, Dovefoot Geranium, Dovesfoot Crane's-bill, Wild Geranium, dove's-foot geranium

This charming little plant is a common sight in lawns and meadows. It is a hardy annual that spreads easily by seed. You will love its delicate foliage and tiny pink flowers.

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: 4 to 16 inches
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early autumn

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist while it is establishing. Watch for yellowing leaves which often indicate the plant is finishing its life cycle. It thrives best in sunny spots with well draining soil.

Watering: Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms and prevent unwanted spreading.
Repotting: Since it is an annual, you typically do not need to repot it.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -15 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic but can cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Children: The small seeds and foliage pose a minor choking hazard if placed in the mouth.
Contact allergens: The glandular hairs on the stems and leaves can cause mild contact dermatitis.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may cause mild reactions in sensitive individuals during the peak flowering season.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and may cause stomach upset if ingested.

How to identify it

Softly hairy leaves
Deeply lobed rounded foliage
Small pinkish purple flowers
Beak like seed capsules

Height: 0.1 to 0.4m
Spread: 0.15 to 0.3m
Leaves: green, reddish-tinged, deciduous
Flowers: pink, purple, 0.5 to 1.5cm
Fruit: brown, Summer

Problems to watch for

Powdery mildew · A white fungal growth appears on leaves during periods of high humidity and poor airflow.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn

Plant this in areas where you want a naturalized, low-maintenance ground cover that supports local pollinators.

Grows well with

Common Daisy · They share similar light and moisture requirements in meadow settings.
Red Clover · Both plants thrive in similar open, grassy habitats.

Similar species

Cut-leaved Cranesbill · It has deeply divided leaves compared to the softer, rounded leaves of G. molle.

Science

Family: Geraniaceae
Genus: Geranium
Order: Geraniales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa.
Conservation: This plant is a common weed and is not of conservation concern.

It colonizes disturbed ground and open grasslands by producing large quantities of easily dispersed seeds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, wildlife garden, meadow planting

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: 4/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this plant invasive?: It can be aggressive in gardens due to its prolific seed production.
Does it need much water?: It prefers moderate moisture but tolerates short dry spells once established.

Where the name comes from

The name molle refers to the soft, downy hairs covering the plant, while Geranium comes from the Greek word for crane, referring to the beak-like fruit.

Good to know

It is commonly known as dovesfoot cranesbill because of the leaf shape.
The plant is an annual or biennial that readily self-seeds.
It thrives in disturbed soils and is often found in lawns and meadows.

Keep your dovefoot cranesbill 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 October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.