Ornamental · Geraniaceae
Wild Geranium
Geranium maculatum
Give it dappled shade and moist woodland soil, and this tough native carpets the spring garden in pink.
Partial shade
Every 5–10 days
USDA 3–8
8–24 in · 20–61 cm
Overview
Wild geranium is a clump-forming native perennial of eastern woodlands, the true Geranium that gardeners also call cranesbill for the long, beak-shaped seed pods it forms after flowering. From mid to late spring it throws up loose sprays of pink to lavender flowers above deeply cut, lobed leaves. It belongs to the genus Geranium, which is worth keeping straight from the scented Pelargonium sold as a houseplant.
This is an easy, low-maintenance plant that asks for little once it settles in. It thrives in part shade and rich, humus-filled soil, much like the forest floor it comes from, and it spreads slowly by rhizome into a tidy ground-covering clump. The flowers pull in bees and flies, which makes it a favorite for native and pollinator plantings.
It's hardy across a wide range, surviving winters from zones 3 to 8, and it shrugs off most pests and diseases. The main thing it won't forgive is hot, dry soil in midsummer, which leaves the foliage yellow and tired. Keep it cool and moist and it stays handsome from spring straight through fall.
Care
The short version: part shade and rich, moist, humus-rich soil. Keep it evenly watered through summer heat, feed it little if the soil is already good, and divide a crowded clump every few years.
Light
Wild geranium does best in partial shade, the dappled light of a woodland edge. It tolerates full sun where the soil stays reliably moist, as well as full shade, but harsh sun over dry ground is what scorches the leaves.
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist, roughly every 5 to 10 days, and never let it bake. Established plants will ride out the odd dry spell, but the foliage yellows fast in a hot, dry summer if the roots run short of water.
Soil
It wants rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil, the loose woodland kind full of leaf mold, though it adapts to clay or sand. Aim for a slightly acidic to neutral range of pH 5.5 to 7.0.
Temperature
This is a cold-hardy plant, comfortable across -40°F to 95°F (-40°C to 35°C) and winter-hardy through USDA zones 3 to 8. The summer heat itself isn't the problem so much as the dry soil that often comes with it.
Humidity
Ordinary outdoor humidity suits it fine, so there's no level to manage. What matters far more is good airflow through the clump, since stagnant, damp air is what invites rust and leaf spot.
Feeding
Rich woodland soil usually feeds this plant on its own, so go light. A spring topdressing of compost or a balanced fertilizer is all it ever needs, and even that is optional in good ground.
Pruning
There's almost nothing to do here. Deadhead spent flowers or shear tired foliage back after bloom to bring on a fresh flush of leaves, and otherwise leave it alone.
Repotting
Grown in the ground, the plant only needs dividing when a clump gets congested, every 3 to 4 years. A crowded, declining center, weaker flowering, or yellow summer leaves are the signs it's time to lift and split it.
Size & spacing
Mature plants reach about 8 to 24 inches (20 to 61 cm) tall with a similar 12 to 24 inch (30 to 61 cm) spread. Give each clump that much room so it can fill in without crowding its neighbors.
When to plant
Wild geranium runs on the woodland calendar. Its seed needs cold to wake up, so sow it in late winter after 2 to 3 months of cold stratification, set young plants out in spring after the last frost or in fall, and watch for flowers from April through June.
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
Typical months for a temperate climate: start earlier in warm zones, later where spring frosts linger.
- Sow: Late winter after 2 to 3 months cold stratification
- Plant: Spring after last frost, or fall
- Harvest: April to June (mid to late spring)
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones: 3–8
Temperature: down to -40°C
Troubleshooting
Wild geranium rarely runs into serious trouble, and most of what you'll see is cosmetic. The usual culprits are damp-loving fungi, hungry slugs, and summer heat. Match what you see below and step in early while it still makes a difference.
Orange-brown pustules or dark spots on the leaves
This is usually rust or a leaf spot fungus, both of which take hold when the foliage stays wet and air can't move through the clump. Pull off the marked leaves and bin them, then water at the base instead of over the top. Clearing fallen debris at season end keeps the spores from carrying over.
Fix:
- Remove and destroy affected leaves
- Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering
- Clean up fallen debris at season end
Ragged holes in the leaves with silvery slime trails
Slugs and snails feed after dark and after rain, leaving chewed leaves and shiny trails behind. Go out at dusk with a flashlight and pick them off, or set iron-phosphate bait nearby. Clear away boards, mulch piles, and other damp hiding spots so they have nowhere to shelter.
Fix:
- Handpick snails and slugs in the evening
- Set out traps or iron-phosphate bait
- Remove damp hiding spots such as debris and boards
Foliage yellows and looks tired by midsummer
Wild geranium hates to bake, and dry soil in summer heat is what turns the leaves yellow and shabby. Water deeply through hot dry spells and lay down organic mulch to hold the moisture in. If the clump already looks spent, shear it back hard and it flushes a fresh round of leaves.
Fix:
- Water deeply during hot dry periods
- Apply organic mulch to conserve moisture
- Shear back declining foliage to flush fresh growth
Toxicity
Good news for pet owners: true wild geranium, Geranium maculatum, is not toxic and is considered safe around cats, dogs, livestock, and people. The confusion comes from the name. The scented houseplant geranium, Pelargonium, is a different genus and is the one that's actually poisonous to pets.
Safe for
People · Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Cats None
Cats can brush past or nibble wild geranium without trouble, since Geranium maculatum carries no reported toxins. The plant to watch is the scented Pelargonium geranium, a different genus that is the one ASPCA actually flags.
Dogs None
No poisoning has been reported in dogs from true wild geranium, so a curious chew on the leaves is nothing to worry about. Don't mix it up with the toxic Pelargonium sold as a houseplant.
Horses None
Horses can graze around a woodland planting of wild geranium safely, with no toxic compounds on record for this species.
Rabbits None
Rabbits, wild or pet, may browse the foliage without harm.
Livestock None
Cattle, goats, and sheep face no listed risk from this native geranium in pasture or garden.
Birds None
Birds are safe around the plant, and pollinators such as bees and flies in fact rely on its spring flowers.
People None
The plant poses no poisoning risk to people; washing your hands after handling any garden plant is enough.
No special handling required; wash hands after gardening as a general precaution.
Varieties
Most gardens grow the straight species, but a few selected forms turn up for their darker leaves or different flower colors. These are the ones worth knowing.
Espresso
Carries unusual chocolate-brown to reddish-brown foliage that sets off its pale pink to lavender flowers.
Elizabeth Ann
Pairs bronze-tinted leaves with cool blue-lavender blooms.
Album
A white-flowered form of the species, listed botanically as f. albiflorum.
Companions
Plant near
Ferns: Share the same part-shade, moist woodland conditions and contrast in foliage texture.
Woodland phlox (Phlox divaricata): Blooms at the same spring time in similar shade gardens for a layered native display.
Wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis): Native spring woodland companion that suits the same shade and soil and supports pollinators.
How to propagate
Wild geranium spreads on its own by rhizome, and you can give it a hand by dividing established clumps or by sowing the seed it scatters.
DivisionEasy
Fall or early spring · One growing season
The easiest way to make more wild geranium is to lift a clump in fall or early spring and split the rhizomes, which often grow in tidy right angles that pull apart cleanly. Replant the divisions and they settle in within a single growing season.
SeedModerate
Sow fresh in fall outdoors, or stratify cold 2 to 3 months and sow in spring · One to two growing seasons
Growing from seed takes more patience. Collect the seed as the capsules darken, but bag the ripening heads first, because the capsules fling their seed out the moment they're ready. Sow fresh in fall outdoors, or give the seed 2 to 3 months of cold stratification and sow in spring, and expect one to two seasons before the plants establish.
Myths
Every plant called a geranium is toxic to cats and dogs.
The toxic one is the scented houseplant geranium, Pelargonium, which ASPCA lists as poisonous to cats and dogs thanks to geraniol and linalool, with signs like vomiting, loss of appetite, low mood, and skin irritation. True wild geranium, Geranium maculatum, sits in a different genus and is not listed as toxic at all. The shared common name is what trips people up.