Wild Geranium Plant

Wild Geranium Plant: A Native Spring Wildflower for Shade and Sun

Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) is a native perennial wildflower that grows 1 to 2 feet tall and blooms pink to lavender from April to June. Wild geranium is hardy in USDA zones 3–8 and thrives in partial shade to full sun. TN Nursery ships dormant bare-root wild geranium plants, Buy 1 Get 1 Free.

Wild geranium grows naturally in eastern North American woodlands, from Quebec and Manitoba south to Georgia and west to Kansas and Oklahoma, including the wooded hillsides of Tennessee. The plant belongs to the geranium family, Geraniaceae. Gardeners also call wild geranium spotted geranium, wood geranium, spotted cranesbill, wild cranesbill and alumroot. The name cranesbill comes from the long, beak-shaped seed capsule that forms after bloom and flicks its seeds several feet from the plant.

• Botanical name: Geranium maculatum, geranium family (Geraniaceae)
• Also called: spotted geranium, wood geranium, spotted cranesbill, wild cranesbill, alumroot
• Flower: 1 to 1½ inch, five-petaled blooms in pink to lilac, April to June
• Foliage: palm-shaped, deeply cut leaves that often turn red to burgundy in fall
• Best uses: shade gardens, woodland borders, native plant gardens, pollinator beds and naturalized areas
• Wildlife value: spring nectar and pollen for native bees, butterflies and hover flies; seeds for songbirds; rarely browsed by deer
• What ships: dormant bare-root plants in Buy 1 Get 1 Free, Buy 3 Get 2 Free, Buy 5 Get 3 Free and 25-plant wholesale bundles

Is Wild Geranium the Same as a Regular Geranium?

No. Wild geranium is a true hardy geranium (genus Geranium) that returns every year, while the bedding "geranium" sold for pots is Pelargonium, a tender plant grown as an annual. Wild geranium is one of the cranesbill geraniums, and Geranium maculatum is the cranesbill native to eastern North America.

Wild geranium leaves are divided into five to seven lobes, like a hand with spread fingers, and form a neat, rounded clump. Each flower has five rounded petals with fine darker veins that guide bees to the nectar. A planting of several wild geraniums shows a soft mix of rosy pink and pale purple shades.

Does Wild Geranium Grow in Sun or Shade?

Wild geranium grows in both sun and shade: partial shade and dappled woodland light suit it best, and full sun works when the soil stays evenly moist. In the warm South, wild geranium does best with afternoon shade.

Wild geranium prefers rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil with plenty of leaf mold or compost, and it also settles into average loam and clay. Slightly acidic to neutral soil is ideal. Water regularly during the first growing season, then let natural rainfall carry established clumps. A 1-inch layer of shredded leaves over the bed holds moisture and feeds the soil, just like a forest floor.

When Does Wild Geranium Bloom?

Wild geranium blooms in spring, from April into June, for about six to seven weeks. The long bloom bridges the gap between early spring ephemerals and summer perennials.

Is Wild Geranium Good for Pollinators?

Yes. Wild geranium is an important early-spring food source for bumblebees, mason bees, sweat bees and other native bees, and butterflies, skippers and hover flies visit the flowers too. One native mining bee, the geranium bee (Andrena distans), gathers its pollen almost only from Geranium flowers.

After bloom, wild geranium seeds feed mourning doves, bobwhite quail and other ground-feeding birds. A drift of wild geraniums gives bees forage in April and May, when few other flowers are open. For design ideas, see our guide to creating a pollinator garden.

What Grows Well With Wild Geranium?

Spring woodland natives that like rich, moist soil grow well with wild geranium. Virginia bluebells add sky-blue flowers at the same time, and celandine poppy brings bright yellow blooms. White trillium and Solomon's seal add height and form. Low wild ginger covers the ground between clumps, Christmas fern keeps the bed green all winter, and foamflower adds lacy white spikes along the front edge. Browse more partners in our shade perennials collection.

How Do You Plant Bare-Root Wild Geranium?

Plant bare-root wild geranium 1 to 2 inches deep, lying horizontally with the buds facing up, and space plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Plant in fall or early spring while the rhizomes are dormant.

TN Nursery digs wild geranium while dormant and ships the plants bare root, with no soil around the roots. Each plant arrives as a firm, knobby rhizome with fibrous roots and growing buds, often with no leaves, which is normal for a dormant plant.

1. Soak the roots in water for 1 to 2 hours.
2. Loosen the soil and mix in compost or leaf mold.
3. Lay the rhizome flat, 1 to 2 inches deep, buds up.
4. Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart, or group 3 to 5 for a natural clump.
5. Water well and cover the bed with 1 inch of shredded leaves.

Planting & Growing Information

Botanical Name: Geranium maculatum
Plant Family: Geraniaceae
Ships: Bare root, dormant
Planting Zone: 3–8
Height at Maturity: 1–2 feet
Spread: 12–18 inches
Sun or Shade: Partial shade to full sun (afternoon shade in the South)
Water Needs: Moderate; keep evenly moist the first season
Soil: Rich, humus-rich, well-drained soil; adapts to loam and clay
Bloom Season: April–June
Flower Color: Pink to lavender
Native Range: Eastern North America, Quebec and Manitoba south to Georgia and west to Kansas and Oklahoma
Care: Leave fallen leaves over the bed as a natural mulch. Trim spent flower stems after bloom for a tidy look, or leave them so the seeds feed birds. Divide large clumps in early spring or fall to make more plants.
Plant Attributes: Native perennial, long spring bloom, pollinator plant, colorful fall foliage, deer resistant

Wild Geranium FAQ

Is wild geranium a perennial?

Yes. Wild geranium is a long-lived native perennial that dies back to its rhizome in winter and returns each spring with a larger clump.

Does wild geranium spread?

Wild geranium spreads gently. The rhizomes slowly widen each clump and some seeds sprout nearby, so a planting fills in as a soft ground cover over a few seasons.

How tall does wild geranium get?

Wild geranium grows 1 to 2 feet tall and 12 to 18 inches wide, with flowers held just above the leaves.

Is wild geranium deer resistant?

Yes. Deer and rabbits rarely browse wild geranium, so wild geranium is a good choice for woodland gardens near forest edges.

What zones does wild geranium grow in?

Wild geranium grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 8, from cold northern gardens to the humid Mid-South.

When is the best time to plant wild geranium?

The best time to plant wild geranium is fall or early spring, while the bare-root rhizomes are dormant. Many plants flower their first spring.

Grown and Shipped by TN Nursery

TN Nursery has grown hardy native plants since 1959, more than 65 years of experience, and has supplied plants to major U.S. landmarks like the Washington Monument and Arlington National Cemetery. At our Altamont, Tennessee nursery, we grow and ship native woodland wildflowers like wild geranium to gardens across the country. Each order is dug while dormant and packed bare root so the plants settle quickly into your garden. Want to learn more first? Read Wild Geranium: A Delicate Beauty for the Garden and Shade-loving Perennials: Best Plants for Your Garden on our garden blog, or browse all our perennial plants.