Cranesbill
ExplorePlants
Cranesbill
Geranium maculatum
Cranesbill has pretty purple flowers with a unique shape! It's often found in woodlands and is great for attracting bees.
Habitat: Woodlands and meadows
Appearance
The Cranesbill has distinctive five-petaled flowers, often vibrant pink to purple, with prominent darker veins. Its broad, deeply cut leaves form a bushy clump, creating a lush green backdrop for its striking blooms.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderGeranialesFamilyGeraniaceaeGenusGeranium
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
125
Interesting facts
Its five-petaled flowers often have subtle stripes guiding insects to nectar!
Native Americans used its roots to make a traditional brown dye for fabrics.
Some gardeners use it to prevent weeds because of its dense growth.
This tough plant can live for many years, returning bigger each spring!
Special abilities
Ability
Seed Flinger
Cranesbill can blast its seeds! Its unique seed pods act like tiny catapults, flinging seeds away to find new homes.
Ability
Shade Seeker
Cranesbill has broad leaves that expertly capture dappled light, helping it thrive and grow in shady woodland spots.
Ability
Nature's Band-Aid
Cranesbill has natural astringent properties that Native Americans traditionally used to help soothe minor skin irritations.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 30-60 cm
- Spread
- 30-60 cm
- Flower Size
- 2.5-4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring-summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
Honeybee
Apis mellifera
gathers nectar and pollen
pollinates
Common Eastern Bumblebee
Bombus impatiens
gathers nectar and pollen
eaten by
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
occasionally browses its leaves
Traits
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
Spotted Geranium
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Cranesbill?
The easiest way to identify Cranesbill is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Cranesbill?
30-60 cm
How wide does Cranesbill spread?
30-60 cm
How big are the flowers on Cranesbill?
2.5-4 cm
When does Cranesbill bloom?
Spring-summer
Is Cranesbill edible?
No
Is Cranesbill toxic?
None
What is Cranesbill's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.
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Recent Snaps
Jun 5, 2026
Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuaryi
Photo attribution
(c) Wyatt Sibilia, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 2, 2026
Lyman School for Boysi
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Jun 2, 2026
Cato Hill Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Branson Khounvichith, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
License: CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 27, 2026
Slocum's River Reservei
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
May 27, 2026
Hamburg Bridge Historic Districti
Photo attribution
(c) Jim Arrigoni, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park99 sightings17 species
Wisconsin, US
Greenfield Park
You might spot White-Tailed Deer, Common Eastern Bumble Bee, and Duck.
View guide →
Park113 sightings16 species
Minnesota, US
William O'Brien State Park
You might spot Rue Anemone, Eastern Skunk Cabbage, and Bloodroot.
View guide →
Park122 sightings14 species
Illinois, US
River Park
You might spot Duck, American Robin, and Black-Crowned Night Heron.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
New York, US
Albany Pine Bush
You might spot Sundial Lupine, Spotted Horsemint, and New Jersey Tea.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Illinois, US
Anderson Japanese Gardens
You might spot Common Eastern Bumble Bee and Brown-Belted Bumble Bee.
View guide →
Aquarium30 sightings12 species
New York, US
Aquarium of Niagara
You might spot Ring-Billed Gull and Eastern Gray Squirrel.
View guide →
