Carolina Geranium

-- Written By Fred Yelverton (Updated: October 10, 2022)

Description

Carolina geranium (Geranium carolinianum) is a winter annual or biennial weed that is also called cranesbill because the fruits have a conspicuous "beak" about ¹⁄₂ inch long. The leaves are deeply five- to seven-lobed and each lobe is again lobed and bluntly toothed. The flower is white to lavender and borne two to several together on stalks from the upper nodes. It blooms mostly in April and May.

Cultural Control

Proper turf management is important for biennial broadleaf weed control. Maintain a dense, actively growing turf through proper mowing, fertilizing, and watering practices. Mow at the proper height for your selected adapted turfgrass. Coring and traffic control reduce compaction and encourage desirable turfgrass competition. It is best to control this biennial broadleaf weed in spring or fall, if actively growing at these times.

Species Data

GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
- winter annual or biennial weed
GROWTH HABIT
- upright; basal rosette of leaves, stems erect
  Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4
LEAFLET NUMBER
- one
LEAF MARGIN
- deeply five- to seven-lobed and each lobe is again lobed and bluntly toothed
  Figure 5, Figure 6, Figure 7, Figure 8
LEAF HAIRS
- none
LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
- heart / kidney / spade
LEAF WIDTH
- 1 inch to greater than 2 inches
LEAF VENATION
- palmate
LEAF ARRANGEMENT
- usually alternate near base, opposite above
  Figure 11, Figure 12, Figure 13
ROOT TYPE
- taproot
  Figure 14
FLOWER COLOR
- blue / purple or white
  Figure 9, Figure 10, Figure 15, Figure 16

Figure 1. Carolina geranium growth habit.

Figure 5. Carolina geranium leaf margin.

Figure 9. Carolina geranium flower color.

Figure 11. Carolina geranium leaf arrangement.

This Extension publication can also be viewed at: https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/carolina-geranium