Wild geranium, also known by the scientific name *Geranium maculatum*, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower that is a native to the woodlands of Eastern North America, including Louisiana, Oklahoma, Florida, North Dakota, Maine, and Arkansas. Wild geraniums belong to the *Geraniaceae* family and have purple, lilac, or pink blooms and loose clusters of dark, many-lobed green basal leaves. 

As clump-forming woodland perennials with showy flowers, wild geraniums are often used as ornamental plants or garden plants in woodland gardens or home landscapes as ground cover. The leaves have branched rhizomes, and the seed capsules are beak-shaped, which inspired their common name “wild cranesbill.”
Wild geraniums have a bloom time from around early spring or late spring to early summer and will thrive in [USDA hardiness zones](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-planting-zones) three through eight. They are relatively easy to cultivate and also attract beneficial pollinators like bumblebees. It is best to begin sowing wild geranium seeds in the fall so that they don’t require artificial stratification. Here is an overview of how to grow wild geranium. 

1. __Choose the site__. Wild geranium flowers can tolerate full sun and light shade or part shade. However, they will flower more with increased sun exposure. Choose a site in your garden with plenty of sun if you want showy flowers. Keep in mind that wild geranium prefers rich soil with plenty of nutrients and organic matter that retains moisture well. 
2. __Sow the wild geranium seeds__. Wild geranium seeds need lots of sunlight to germinate, so you don’t need to bury them too far beneath the soil. Instead, sow seeds by sprinkling them across the flower bed. Next, sprinkle a light layer of soil over the top of the seeds, or simply press down on the seeds to embed them into the soil.
3. __Water your seeds after planting them__. Keep the soil moist as your seeds germinate and grow. Be careful to avoid overwatering your seeds, but be sure that the soil is always slightly damp and doesn't dry out.
4. __Thin the seedlings__. Once your seedlings are one to two inches tall, use garden shears to thin them back to between six and twelve inches apart to promote aeration.
Wild geraniums won’t require too much maintenance to grow, although it’s important to keep the soil moist and monitor any burgeoning blooms to make sure they are healthy and thriving in your garden.

1. __Water them regularly__. Your wild geraniums will need moist soil to thrive, so watering the soil daily in the summer and less frequently in the winter will help encourage blooms.
2. __Weed your garden bed__. To prevent other plants from coming in and competing for water and nutrients, keep your garden bed weed-free.
3. __Cut back your foliage between seasons__. Wild geraniums do not require [deadheading](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-deadhead-flowers-in-your-garden) as they don’t repeat bloom during the season, but you may consider shearing back the foliage during bloom to encourage new growths.
Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com/) and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.
You can direct-sow wild geraniums into your garden bed for a broad-leaved perennial that provides plenty of green and purple color to your landscaping setup.

You can direct-sow wild geraniums into your garden bed for a broad-leaved perennial that provides plenty of green and purple color to your landscaping setup.

Wild Geranium Care: How to Grow Geranium Maculatum

Wild geranium, also known by the scientific name Geranium maculatum, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower that is a native to the woodlands of Eastern North America, including Louisiana, Oklahoma, Florida, North Dakota, Maine, and Arkansas. Wild geraniums belong to the Geraniaceae family and have purple, lilac, or pink blooms and loose clusters of dark, many-lobed green basal leaves. As clump-forming woodland perennials with showy flowers, wild geraniums are often used as ornamental plants or garden plants in woodland gardens or home landscapes as ground cover. The leaves have branched rhizomes, and the seed capsules are beak-shaped, which inspired their common name “wild cranesbill.”

What Is Wild Geranium?

Wild geraniums have a bloom time from around early spring or late spring to early summer and will thrive in <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-planting-zones' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-planting-zones","linkCopy":"USDA hardiness zones","category":null}'>USDA hardiness zones</a> three through eight. They are relatively easy to cultivate and also attract beneficial pollinators like bumblebees. It is best to begin sowing wild geranium seeds in the fall so that they don’t require artificial stratification. Here is an overview of how to grow wild geranium. <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Choose the site. Wild geranium flowers can tolerate full sun and light shade or part shade. However, they will flower more with increased sun exposure. Choose a site in your garden with plenty of sun if you want showy flowers. Keep in mind that wild geranium prefers rich soil with plenty of nutrients and organic matter that retains moisture well. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Sow the wild geranium seeds. Wild geranium seeds need lots of sunlight to germinate, so you don’t need to bury them too far beneath the soil. Instead, sow seeds by sprinkling them across the flower bed. Next, sprinkle a light layer of soil over the top of the seeds, or simply press down on the seeds to embed them into the soil. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Water your seeds after planting them. Keep the soil moist as your seeds germinate and grow. Be careful to avoid overwatering your seeds, but be sure that the soil is always slightly damp and doesn&#39;t dry out. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Thin the seedlings. Once your seedlings are one to two inches tall, use garden shears to thin them back to between six and twelve inches apart to promote aeration. </li></ol>

How to Grow Wild Geranium

Wild geraniums won’t require too much maintenance to grow, although it’s important to keep the soil moist and monitor any burgeoning blooms to make sure they are healthy and thriving in your garden.<ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Water them regularly. Your wild geraniums will need moist soil to thrive, so watering the soil daily in the summer and less frequently in the winter will help encourage blooms. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Weed your garden bed. To prevent other plants from coming in and competing for water and nutrients, keep your garden bed weed-free. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Cut back your foliage between seasons. Wild geraniums do not require <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-deadhead-flowers-in-your-garden' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-deadhead-flowers-in-your-garden","linkCopy":"deadheading","category":null}'>deadheading</a> as they don’t repeat bloom during the season, but you may consider shearing back the foliage during bloom to encourage new growths. </li></ol>

3 Care Tips for Wild Geranium

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described &quot;Gangster Gardener.&quot; Get the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/' target='_blank' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.

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You can direct-sow wild geraniums into your garden bed for a broad-leaved perennial that provides plenty of green and purple color to your landscaping setup.

You can direct-sow wild geraniums into your garden bed for a broad-leaved perennial that provides plenty of green and purple color to your landscaping setup.


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Wild Geranium Care: How to Grow Geranium Maculatum