Geranium maculatum - Wild Geranium

Morphology/Growth Habits: A tough plant with a beautiful flower! G. maculatum has delicate, saucer-shaped pink flowers that dance in the wind in springtime. Unique deeply lobed, textured foliage that sits low. Clump-forming but can also form decent groundcover over time. In the fall, this geranium forms peculiar, beaked seedheads that give it one of its common names: Cranesbill. Spreads by seed and rhizome. 

Height: 1-2 ft

Light: Full Sun-Part Shade

Moisture: Medium

Bloom color: Pink

Bloom time: April-May

Habitat/Best Environments: Found in thickets and shaded woodlands. Wild geranium grows in a variety of light conditions, although if in full sun you should ensure consistent irrigation. While it can tolerate many soil conditions, it prefers moist, rich soil. 

Ecological relationships: Flower attracts many pollinators, including its specialist bee: Andrena distans, a miner bee! Larval host for White-Marked Tussock moth. Birds also feed on its seeds. Deer & rabbit resistant. 

*This wildflower has many medicinal uses due to the high levels of tannins in its roots/rhizomes, giving it astringent and anti-inflammatory properties. While it is edible, these same tannins make it very bitter so it typically isn’t used in cooking. 

*Please soil test and do proper research before growing a plant for human consumption.