Bring a splash of color to your spring garden with Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum). This charming native perennial features clusters of soft lavender-pink flowers that bloom in early to mid-spring, providing essential nectar and pollen for early-season pollinators. Wild geranium is an excellent choice for groundcover, especially in shaded or woodland areas. Its clumping growth habit and spreading nature allow it to form lush mats of foliage that can help suppress weeds and fill in bare spots in your garden.
Because it thrives in part-to-full shade and adapts to a range of soil types, wild geranium is particularly well-suited for naturalized groundcover under trees, along woodland edges, or in shaded garden beds. Once established, it’s also low-maintenance and drought-tolerant, making it a sustainable and attractive choice for covering larger areas with minimal effort.
Key Features:
- Lovely Spring Blooms: Delicate lavender-pink flowers brighten shaded areas and attract native bees and butterflies.
- Pollinator Friendly: Serves as an early-season nectar and pollen source for native bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects.
- Low Maintenance: Thrives in full to part shade with minimal care and requires less water once established.
- Deer Resistant: Once established, the plant is resilient to deer browsing, ensuring lasting beauty in your garden.
- Eco-Friendly: Grown non-GMO and free of harmful neonicotinoids, promoting a healthy ecosystem for pollinators and wildlife.
Available in sets of three, six, or 12 plants to suit gardens of any size.
Why Choose Wild Geranium?
Wild geranium is a versatile and hardy perennial that thrives in shady or woodland settings, making it ideal for gardens with limited sunlight. Its early blooms provide vital resources for pollinators emerging after winter, while its lush foliage adds texture and fills garden beds throughout the growing season.
Planting Tips:
- Location: Prefers full to part shade with moist, well-drained soil.
- Watering: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots. Once established, it is drought-tolerant.
- Maintenance: Minimal care required. There's no need to deadhead the flowers, as allowing them to go to seed provides a valuable food source for birds. Leaving the stems standing in the fall offers overwintering sites for beneficial insects. If desired, cut back the stems in late spring after pollinators have emerged.
For more information on planting, view our How to Plant Your Native Plants guide and other planting tips in the Garden for Wildlife Learning Center.
Add wild geranium to your garden for its delicate spring blooms, pollinator support, and easy-care nature. It’s the perfect choice for shaded gardens and naturalized landscapes that support wildlife and bring early-season beauty.