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Wild geranium
Habit (mature) · Eric in SF / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
Wild geranium
Geranium maculatum
A native eastern North American clump-forming perennial with palmately-lobed foliage and clustered pink-to-purple five-petaled spring flowers. Among the most reliable native woodland perennials for cool-moist sites; tolerates a wide range of conditions and slowly naturalizes by self-seeding.
Native: 48 US states + 4 CA provinces
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (94/100)
Pollinator
Border
Filler
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
18-24" tall · 18" apart
Hardy in zones
3a-11b
brutally cold to nearly frost-free winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
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Heat and sun protection
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Transplanting and establishment
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Pruning and deadheading
Pruners, snips, loppers, pruning saws, sharpening tools, and cut-flower shears.
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Native across 52 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/wild-geranium
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
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