# Herb Robert (*Geranium robertianum*) Herb Robert is a small, pretty plant with bright green leaves and pink flowers. It often grows in shady places and is loved by many little creatures in nature. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 26 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Robert's Geranium, Stinky Bob ![Herb Robert](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Geranium_robertianum_-_blossom_and_bud.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Geranium_robertianum_-_blossom_and_bud.jpg) ## Appearance The Herb Robert has delicate, deeply cut fern-like leaves and often reddish stems and foliage, especially in sunlight or cold. Its small, five-petaled flowers are a vibrant pinkish-purple, making it stand out from similar green plants. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Geraniales - **Family:** Geraniaceae - **Genus:** Geranium ## Interesting facts - In folklore, Herb Robert was sometimes believed to bring good luck! - Its stem and leaves often turn bright red in sunshine or cold weather! - Its tiny seeds can launch themselves like mini rockets! - Some people call this plant 'Stinky Bob' for its strong smell! ## Special abilities - **Stinky Shield:** Herb Robert has a strong, musky odor when crushed that helps it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves. - **Seed Sprinter:** Herb Robert can launch its seeds with tiny explosive pods, flinging them away from the parent plant to reproduce. - **Sunscreen Leaves:** Herb Robert has leaves that turn reddish in bright sun or cold, using special pigments to protect itself from stress. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-50 cm - **Spread:** 15-50 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Biennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers - **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed Bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen - **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Feeds on the leaves and stems ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents. - [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 - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Herb Robert? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Herb Robert? 15-50 cm ### How wide does Herb Robert spread? 15-50 cm ### How big are the flowers on Herb Robert? 1-2 cm ### When does Herb Robert bloom? Spring to fall ### Is Herb Robert edible? Yes ### Is Herb Robert toxic? None ### What is Herb Robert's lifecycle? Biennial ## Where to spot - [Bartholomew's Cobble](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bartholomews-cobble) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Catskill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/catskill-park) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Currier Park Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/currier-park-historic-district) — Vermont, US · Historic District - [Forest Hill Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/forest-hill-park) — Ohio, US · Park - [Guilford Historic Town Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/guilford-historic-town-center) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Herb Robert](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/herb-robert) ## 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*) --- Source: [Herb Robert: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/herb-robert)