Source: Donna Bos
Plant Names
Geranium maculatum
Spotted Geranium
Géranium maculé
Synonyms
spotted crane's-bill
Plant Characteristics
Bloom Colour: Purple
Bloom Period: May - Jul
Max Height: 1.0 feet
Max Width: 1.0 feet (spreads by rhizome)
Light Condition:
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Soil conditions:
Tolerates medium soil condition
More than 6 hours of direct sun a day
More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day
Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day
Tolerates medium soil condition
Lifespan:
Perennial
plants that will that come back year after year
Gardener Experience:
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Self-seeding
Suitable for beginner gardeners
Does not spread uncontrollably
Spreads by rhizome
Self-seeding
Landscape Uses:
Suitable for Right of Way gardens
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for woodland gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Suitable for Right of Way gardens
Suitable for rain gardens
Suitable for container garden
Suitable for woodland gardens
Tolerates boulevard garden conditions
Ecological Benefits:
Bee host
Bee host
Tolerates:
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Tolerates salt conditions
Deer resistant
Rabbit resistant
Tolerates foot traffic around the plant
Tolerates limestone conditions
Tolerates sandy conditions
Tolerates juglone conditions
Special Features and Considerations:
This plant is septic tank safe
This plant is septic tank safe
Seed and plant distribution status
No seeds available for this plant.
We are not accepting seeds for this plant at the moment.
Plant Location
Distribution according to VASCAN
Ephemeral
Native
Introduced
Excluded
Extirpated
Doubtful
Absent
Canadensis
Thrives in Ecozones
- Boreal Plains
- Mixed Wood Plains
Ecological Benefits
Butterflies Supported by Geranium maculatum
- Prochoerodes lineola (Large Maple Spanworm)
Specialized Bees Supported by Geranium maculatum
- Andrena distans
Complementary Plants
- Aquilegia canadensis
Red Columbine
Ancolie du Canada - Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canada Honewort
Cryptoténie du Canada - Elymus hystrix
Bottlebrush Grass
Élyme étalé - Osmorhiza longistylis
Smooth Sweet Cicely
Osmorhize à long style - Thalictrum pubescens
Tall Meadow-rue
Pigamon pubescent
Substitute For Non-Native Plants
- Lamium (Dead nettle)
- Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed)
- Convallaria majalis (Lily of the Valley)
- Iridaceae (Crocus)
- Scilla siberica (Siberian Squill)
- Salvia (Non-Native Sage)
- Myosotis sylvatica (Forget-me-not)
- Phlox subulata (Moss Phlox)
Sowing Information
Download Seed Envelope Labels (PDF)
- Sowing depth: Sow just below surface
- Sow by February
- Stratification duration: 60 days
- Self-seeding
Harvesting and Seed Sharing
- Harvest start month: June
- Harvesting indicator:
- Seeds easily spring away from plant when you touch the pod
- Harvesting:
- Put a bag around the pod to capture the seeds, then touch the pod
- Seed viability test:
- No test needed before donating
- Packaging measure: A dozen (12) seeds (eyeball)
- Seed storage:
- Air dry in paper bag or open container, for a few days until crisp
- Shake seeds to move them once in a while to prevent molding
- Cultivar: Yes, do not donate unless you know source, and there are no known cultivars in your garden or at proximity
- Remove non-seed material
- Harvesting video: Watch here
Toxicity Notes
Not known to be toxic to mammals if ingested.