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Wild Geranium has lovely dissected leaves, beautiful pinkish-purple flowers, and it readily spreads, forming stunning patches that everything from bees to butterflies can't resist.

Mostly found in woodlands in the wild, it does just as well in full sun! Interestingly, Geranium maculatum has a unique way of spreading its seeds. Each seed is packed into a pod and the pods are attached to a structure that resembles a crane's bill. As the bill dries, it literally catapults the seeds away from the parent plant (see corresponding photo). Each seed has a small tail-like structure attached to it that bends and moves in response to changes in humidity, which helps to drive the seed into the soil where it can safely germinate.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons | H. Zell

Larval Host for the

1.5-2'

1-1.5'

SIZE

SOIL

Dry, Medium, Average, Acidic

LIGHT

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

BENEFITS

Butterflies, Bees, Birds

NOTES

Best in part shade areas of borders and woodland gardens. Mass for ground cover.

CHARACTERISTICS

Drought Tolerant, Tolerates Rabbits, Easy to Grow

April, May, June, July

Flower

This 

flowers in

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

DETAIL VIEW

DESCRIPTION

Wild Geranium has lovely dissected leaves, beautiful pinkish-purple flowers, and it readily spreads, forming stunning patches that everything from bees to butterflies can't resist.

Mostly found in woodlands in the wild, it does just as well in full sun! Interestingly, Geranium maculatum has a unique way of spreading its seeds. Each seed is packed into a pod and the pods are attached to a structure that resembles a crane's bill. As the bill dries, it literally catapults the seeds away from the parent plant (see corresponding photo). Each seed has a small tail-like structure attached to it that bends and moves in response to changes in humidity, which helps to drive the seed into the soil where it can safely germinate.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons | H. Zell
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