Geranium carolinianum
Carolina geranium
(c) Mark Richman, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mark Richman · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Geranium carolinianum (Carolina geranium) is a native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by densely hairy capsules and short pedicels.
Carolina geranium is a native annual found in northwestern, central, and southern California, including the Sierra Nevada, Central Valley, Coast Ranges, and Mojave Provinces in open grasslands, scrub, and forest habitats at elevations below 1,700 meters. Flowering from February to August, this plant produces white to rose-pink flowers 5.5 to 6 millimeters long with petals that are slightly notched. Growing with erect stems 10 to 70 centimeters tall, covered in dense, short, spreading or reflexed hairs, it develops a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves are deeply divided into 5 to 7 oblong to wedge-shaped segments, with blade widths ranging from 2.5 to 8.5 centimeters. The plant produces a distinctive elongated fruit with a narrow beak 15 to 19 millimeters long, covered in dense hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 20 sympatric species; distinguished by densely hairy capsules and short pedicels
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open to shaded sites, grassland, scrub, forest
Elevation: < 1700 m
California counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Napa, Marin, Ventura, Riverside, Mariposa, Butte, Lassen, Santa Cruz, Fresno, Sonoma, Solano, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Monterey, Lake, Contra Costa, Tulare, Santa Barbara, Mendocino, Sutter, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, El Dorado, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Calaveras, Amador, Shasta, Tehama, Colusa, Modoc, Humboldt, Siskiyou, Tuolumne, Madera, Stanislaus, Trinity
Outside California: to eastern North America, alien in South America, Asia, Europe, Réunion, some Caribbean islands
Bloom period
Geranium carolinianum blooms Feb-Aug.
How to tell it apart
vs Erodium: Geranium leaves are palmately divided like spread fingers; Erodium leaves are pinnately divided like a feather.; vs Pelargonium: Geranium is herbaceous with symmetrical flowers; Pelargonium is shrubby with asymmetrical flowers.; vs Sidalcea: Geranium has deeply palm-divided leaves; Sidalcea has shallowly palmately-lobed leaves and stamens fused in a column.; vs Bowlesia: Geranium has deeply divided leaves and pink flowers; Bowlesia has shallowly lobed leaves and tiny white umbel flowers.; vs Malva: Geranium has deeply palm-divided leaves with narrow segments; Malva has shallowly palmately-lobed leaves and fused stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Geranium carolinianum native to California?
Yes. Geranium carolinianum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Geranium carolinianum bloom?
Geranium carolinianum blooms Feb-Aug.
Where in California does Geranium carolinianum grow?
Geranium carolinianum occurs in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Orange, Napa, Marin, Ventura, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 1700 m.
What plant family does Geranium carolinianum belong to?
Geranium carolinianum is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Geranium.
What habitat does Geranium carolinianum grow in?
Geranium carolinianum grows in Open to shaded sites, grassland, scrub, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.