# pinewoods geranium (*Geranium caespitosum*) Pinewoods geranium is a pretty flower that grows in forests. It has bright pink petals and loves to bloom in the spring, making the woods look cheerful and colorful. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests ![pinewoods geranium](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Geranium_caespitosum_flora.jpg&width=800) Photo: JerryFriedman, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geranium_caespitosum_flora.jpg) ## Appearance The pinewoods geranium has striking five-petaled flowers, typically vibrant pink to purplish-magenta, often with darker veins. Its deeply lobed, palmate green leaves form a bushy clump. The plant stands out with its bright blooms against the forest floor. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Geraniales - **Family:** Geraniaceae - **Genus:** Geranium ## Interesting facts - Its unique seed pods spring open like catapults to launch seeds far away! - Look closely! Its vibrant purple flowers often have tiny darker lines that guide bees to nectar. - The common name 'cranesbill' comes from its long, beak-like seed capsules! - This tough plant can grow in rocky mountain soil where many others cannot survive. ## Special abilities - **Seed Shooter:** Pinewoods geranium can forcefully eject its seeds from a special pod, flinging them away to colonize new areas. - **Tough Roots:** Its sturdy root system helps pinewoods geranium cling to rocky slopes and thrive in dry, open habitats. - **Shade Tolerant:** Pinewoods geranium can adapt to grow and bloom even in the dappled sunlight found beneath tall pine trees. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-60 cm - **Spread:** 30-45 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits its flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumblebee (*Bombus bifarius*) — An important native pollinator in its mountain habitat. - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer occasionally browse on its leaves and stems. - **Pollinates:** Spring Azure (*Celastrina ladon*) — Small blue butterflies feed on its nectar. ## Traits - [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. - [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. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [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. - [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 flowers unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify pinewoods geranium? 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 pinewoods geranium? 30-60 cm ### How wide does pinewoods geranium spread? 30-45 cm ### How big are the flowers on pinewoods geranium? 2-3 cm ### When does pinewoods geranium bloom? Late spring to summer ### Is pinewoods geranium edible? No ### Is pinewoods geranium toxic? None ### What is pinewoods geranium's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Stratton's Independence Mine and Mill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/strattons-independence-mine-and-mill) — Colorado, US · Historic Site - [Cripple Creek Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cripple-creek-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Gold Hill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gold-hill) — Colorado, US · Neighborhood - [Railroad Addition Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/railroad-addition-historic-district) — Arizona, US · Historic District - [The Arboretum at Flagstaff](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-arboretum-at-flagstaff) — Arizona, US · Botanical Garden - [Bandelier National Monument](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bandelier-national-monument) — New Mexico, US · National Park [View all places to see pinewoods geranium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/pinewoods-geranium) ## 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: [Pinewoods Geranium: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pinewoods-geranium)