# Cranesbill (*Geranium maculatum*)

Cranesbill has pretty purple flowers with a unique shape! It's often found in woodlands and is great for attracting bees.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 129
- **Habitat:** Woodlands and meadows
- **Also known as:** Spotted Geranium

![Cranesbill](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426879/objects/4968.jpg)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Geraniales
- **Family:** Geraniaceae
- **Genus:** Geranium

## 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

- **Seed Flinger:** Cranesbill can blast its seeds! Its unique seed pods act like tiny catapults, flinging seeds away to find new homes.
- **Shade Seeker:** Cranesbill has broad leaves that expertly capture dappled light, helping it thrive and grow in shady woodland spots.
- **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — occasionally browses its leaves

## Traits

- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## 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?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### 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

## Where to spot

- [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve
- [Anderson Japanese Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/anderson-japanese-gardens) — Illinois, US · Botanical Garden
- [Ashton Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ashton-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District
- [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District
- [Berkshire Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berkshire-botanical-garden) — Massachusetts, US · Botanical Garden
- [Bixby State Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bixby-state-preserve) — Iowa, US · Nature Reserve

[View all places to see Cranesbill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cranesbill)

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Cranesbill: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cranesbill)