Photo by Annabel Renwick
Botanical name: Geranium maculatum
Common name: Spotted or wood geranium
Family name: Geraniaceae (Geranium family)
Native range: Eastern North America
Location in Duke Gardens: Blomquist Garden of Native Plants
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3-11
Spring is the most beautiful time in a southeastern native plant garden. I watch with wonder and longing as the foliage of the first spring ephemerals, such as bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), Virginia bluebell (Mertensia virginica) and rue-anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) push through the cold soil in early March. During the second half of the month, many different wildflower species start to emerge as the days grow longer and warmer. As this second wave of plants come into bloom, the first spring flowers have already started to fade and die back. This new phase of flowers includes Geranium maculatum.
The spotted geranium is one of the few geraniums native to eastern North America and is found in woodlands from Canada to Alabama. It is a low-maintenance plant thriving in partial shade in a woodland setting, preferring ‘mesic’ (not too wet and not too dry) soil and blooms from mid- to late spring.
Here at Duke Gardens, spotted geraniums were planted in the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants over 30 years ago. I first observed them around 15 years ago, as gray- green foliage would appear with a few pink blooms. However, since a group of neighboring trees were removed five years ago, there has been a spurt of growth and flowering, most likely due to more light reaching the woodland floor.
This plant species has a clumping habit, growing to a height of 24 inches, and will naturalize under ideal environmental conditions. The pale pink, delicate flowers are held erect above the filigreed foliage, attracting pollinators like solitary native bumble bees, who help cross-pollinate as they search for nectar and pollen, and many other insects, beetles and flies who take advantage of the food on offer.
If you are looking for a low-maintenance, long-lasting plant that attracts pollinators and is deer resistant, look no further than Geranium maculatum. It complements other spring flowers such as Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum), although be warned that Solomon’s seal is loved by deer.
Native: Yes
Height: 12- 24” – naturalizes
Flowering Time: mid to late spring
Flower color: pink to lavender
Foliage: clump forming, grey green
Persistent: Yes
Light: partial sun
Moisture: free draining
Deer: resistant