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