Geranium maculatum Linnaeus. Common name: Wild Geranium. Phenology: Apr-Jun (and rarely later). Habitat: Cove forests, bottomland forests, other mesic, base-rich forests; sometimes also cultivated. Distribution: ME west to MB, south to SC, GA, FL Panhandle (Gadsden County) (Kunzer et al. 2009) and ne. OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, Can, F, Fl2, FNA13, G, GrPl, Il, K4, Mi, Mo3, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Aedo (2012). Basionym: Geranium maculatum L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Geranium maculatum - FNA13
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something wrong or missing on about Geranium maculatum? Let us know here: (Please include your name and email if at all complicated so we can clarify if needed.) We greatly appreciate feedback, and will include updates from you in our next webapp update, which can take a few months. If a species is not keyed, that's because keying is ongoing. Please don't send us feedback about unkeyed species.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial from stout rhizomes found on moist to dry upland forests and well-drained floodplain forests, on acidic as well as strongly calcareous soils.
Stems: Stems simple or branched above, somewhat to densely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves basal plus one opposite pair of stem leaves below the inflorescence, to 4 in. long, heart- to kidney-shaped and deeply divided into 3-7 lobes (often 5), which are again cleft, lobed, or toothed; hairy above and on petiole.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers on hairy stalks, in a loose, branching cluster at top of stem; rose-purple; 1-1 1/2 in. wide; with 5 spreading, oval petals and 10 conspicuous stamens.
Fruits: Fruit a long-beaked capsule that splits into 5 pieces curling upward.
Comments:
Height: 8-24 in.
plant sale text: The 1 ½ inch flowers of wild geranium bloom for several weeks in spring. Its fruiting structure inspired another common name for this plant, cranesbill. When well established, this southeastern native perennial thrives and will lightly self-sow. Its leaves take on an attractive burgundy color in cooler weather. This species is found primarily in alluvial woods and coves of the mountains and piedmont. Wild geranium has been used medicinally to treat sores of the skin and mouth by the Cherokee and Chippewa tribes. The genus Geranium supports up to 23 lepidoptera species.
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial from stout rhizomes found on moist to dry upland forests and well-drained floodplain forests, on acidic as well as strongly calcareous soils.
stems: Stems simple or branched above, somewhat to densely hairy.
leaves: Leaves basal plus one opposite pair of stem leaves below the inflorescence, to 4 in. long, heart- to kidney-shaped and deeply divided into 3-7 lobes (often 5), which are again cleft, lobed, or toothed; hairy above and on petiole.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers on hairy stalks, in a loose, branching cluster at top of stem; rose-purple; 1-1 1/2 in. wide; with 5 spreading, oval petals and 10 conspicuous stamens.
fruits: Fruit a long-beaked capsule that splits into 5 pieces curling upward.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
0 unsaved edits on this page.