Geranium
A group of wild and garden flowers with five-petaled blooms and lobed leaves
Geranium is a group of over 400 plant species found in temperate and some tropical mountain areas. These plants have rounded, divided leaves and flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, or blue, often with fine lines. People grow them in gardens for their flowers and foliage, and some species are used in horticulture and pharmaceuticals.
- Geraniums have five-petaled flowers in white, pink, purple, or blue
- The fruit resembles a crane's bill and helps scatter seeds
- Over 400 species grow in temperate and some tropical mountain regions
- Some species are used in gardens and for pharmaceutical products
What does Geranium look like?
Geraniums are plants with leaves shaped like a hand, divided into pointed segments. Their flowers have five petals, usually in white, pink, purple, or blue, and often show fine lines or veins. The fruit forms a long, beak-like structure, which is where the common name 'crane's-bill' comes from. When ripe, the fruit splits open and flings the seeds away from the plant.
Where does Geranium come from?
Geraniums naturally grow in temperate climates around the world, as well as in some high-altitude tropical regions. The greatest number of species is found in the eastern Mediterranean. The name 'Geranium' comes from the Greek word for crane, inspired by the shape of the fruit. The English name 'crane's-bill' also refers to this beak-like fruit.
When and how Geranium blooms
Geraniums can be grown from seed, by dividing mature plants in spring or autumn, or from cuttings taken in summer. They do best in soil that drains well but holds some moisture, and can grow in both sun and partial shade. Some types spread by underground stems called rhizomes. Most are perennials, living for several years.
How Geranium is used
People grow geraniums mainly for their flowers and attractive leaves, both in gardens and as ground cover. Some species are also used in pharmaceutical products. The plants are a food source for the caterpillars of certain moths. In gardens, they are valued for being hardy and long-lived.
Kinds of Geranium
There are over 400 species of geraniums, with many grown for gardens. Some well-known species include Geranium pratense and Geranium himalayense. Hybrids like 'Johnson's Blue' are popular for their blue flowers. Not all species are equally hardy; some are suited to rock gardens or mild climates.
What Geranium means
Geraniums are sometimes confused with pelargoniums, which are also called 'geraniums' in gardening but are a different genus. The true geraniums are often called 'hardy geraniums' to set them apart. The fruit's crane-like shape has influenced both the scientific and common names.
Where Geranium is used and seen
Questions people ask about Geranium
Where do geraniums come from?
Geraniums grow wild in temperate regions across the world and in some tropical mountain areas, with the highest number of species found in the eastern Mediterranean.
What do geranium flowers look like?
Their flowers have five petals and come in shades of white, pink, purple, or blue, often with fine lines. The leaves are rounded and divided into pointed segments.
How are geraniums used?
People mainly grow geraniums for their flowers and foliage in gardens. Some species are also used in pharmaceutical products, and the plants feed the larvae of certain moths.
Why are they called crane's-bills?
The fruit of the plant forms a long, pointed structure that looks like a crane's beak, which led to the common name 'crane's-bill.'
Are geraniums the same as pelargoniums?
No, although both are in the same family, true geraniums and pelargoniums are different genera. The name 'hardy geranium' is often used to avoid confusion.
Good reading and sources
- Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle
- Geranium × lindavicum 'Gypsy'Royal Horticultural Society, Article
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Geranium", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
Others in the family Geraniaceae
The whole family
Pelargonium
A diverse group of flowering plants often grown as garden and house plants
🇿🇦 South Africa and 7 more · Garden flower
Meadow Crane's-billGeranium pratense
A hardy wildflower with pale blue, saucer-shaped blooms
🇨🇳 China · Wildflower
Bloody crane's-billGeranium sanguineum
A hardy crimson-flowered perennial of grasslands and gardens
🇨🇭 Switzerland · Wildflower
Herb-RobertGeranium robertianum
A pink-flowered wild geranium found in woods and gardens across the north
Geranium robertianum · Wildflower