Carolina Crane's-bill
Geranium carolinianum
Also listed as Geranium atrum, Geranium carolinum
Also known as Carolina Geranium
Climate Match for your location
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A native wildflower with delicate pink to purple flowers and deeply lobed foliage, forming low mounding clumps. Attracts pollinators and is ideal for naturalized settings or cottage gardens.
Why grow it
Carolina crane's-bill is a reliable native choice for gardeners seeking a low-growing geranium that establishes readily in disturbed soils where many ornamentals struggle. Compared to cultivated geranium hybrids, it requires minimal inputs once established and provides consistent pollinator forage across spring and early summer. Its tolerance for average to lean soils and modest water needs make it well-suited to naturalized plantings and meadow edges rather than intensively managed beds.
Watch out for
Self-seeding can be prolific in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if containment is desired. Performance tends to decline in hot, humid climates where fungal issues become more common, making afternoon shade and good air circulation advisable in southern ranges.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Geraniaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A native wildflower with delicate pink to purple flowers and deeply lobed foliage, forming low mounding clumps. Attracts pollinators and is ideal for naturalized settings or cottage gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Carolina Crane's-bill grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Carolina crane's-bill is a reliable native choice for gardeners seeking a low-growing geranium that establishes readily in disturbed soils where many ornamentals struggle. Compared to cultivated geranium hybrids, it requires minimal inputs once established and provides consistent pollinator forage across spring and early summer. Its tolerance for average to lean soils and modest water needs make it well-suited to naturalized plantings and meadow edges rather than intensively managed beds.
Watch out for
Self-seeding can be prolific in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers may be necessary if containment is desired. Performance tends to decline in hot, humid climates where fungal issues become more common, making afternoon shade and good air circulation advisable in southern ranges.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Geraniaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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