Geranium palmatum
Canary Island geranium
(c) F. Bemmerlein-Lux, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Geranium palmatum (Canary Island geranium) is a non-native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by massive size and enormous leaves.
Canary Island geranium is a naturalized perennial found in the Golden Gate Park area of San Francisco at elevations below 200 meters in open to shaded sites. Flowering in June, this plant produces pink to red-purple flowers 19 to 21 millimeters long with rounded petals. Growing 4 to 12 decimeters tall with ascending to erect stems, it develops a robust habit with sparse hairs. Its large leaves span 11 to 42 centimeters wide, deeply divided into 5 segments that are pinnately lobed and dissected, each segment measuring 6 to 10 centimeters long. The distinctive fruit features a long narrow beak 21 to 24 millimeters in length with a delicate net-like surface.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; distinguished by massive size and enormous leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Open to shaded sites
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: native to Madeira Island, northwestern Africa
Bloom period
Geranium palmatum blooms Jun.
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 palmatum native to California?
No. Geranium palmatum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Geranium palmatum bloom?
Geranium palmatum blooms Jun.
What plant family does Geranium palmatum belong to?
Geranium palmatum is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Geranium.
What habitat does Geranium palmatum grow in?
Geranium palmatum grows in Open to shaded sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.