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Native Plant Database

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Geranium carolinianum (Carolina geranium)
Strickland, Sam C.

Geranium carolinianum L.

Carolina geranium, Wild geranium

Geraniaceae (Geranium Family)

USDA Symbol: GECA5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Carolina cranesbill is a much-branched and sprawling, pubescent annual or biennial, usually no taller than 1 ft. Leaves are palmately five-parted, these divisions being cleft or lobed again. Five-petaled, pale pink or white flowers occur in loose terminal clusters.

Cranesbill is a member of the geranium family (family Geraniaceae). Geraniums are leafy herbs with showy white, pink, or purple flowers in clusters. There are about 11 genera and nearly 800 species, with many occurring frequently in the north temperate zone.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: AB , BC , ON , SK
Native Distribution: Scattered from New England to WI & B.C., s. to FL & Mex.
Native Habitat: Dry, hard fields; rocky woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Description: Gravelly to clay soils.
Conditions Comments: Can become weedy.

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Collection: Not Available
Seed Treatment: Seed does not require pretreatment.
Commercially Avail: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

The most common wildflower in North America
January 16, 2008
Hi Mr. Smartyplants, What the most common wildflower in North America? My friend thinks it's the oxeye daisy. Is this correct? I work for a puzzle publishing company, and am doing research for a the...
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From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Stengl Biological Research Station - Smithville, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0748 Collected Apr 3, 1994 in Comal County by Mary Beth White
NPSOT 0697 Collected Mar 11, 1994 in Bexar County by Mike Fox
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

* The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Geranium carolinianum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Geranium carolinianum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Geranium carolinianum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-10-03
Research By: TWC Staff

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