Geranium potentilloides
Cinquefoil geranium
(c) Roger Raiche, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Geranium potentilloides (Cinquefoil geranium) is a non-native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by trailing habit and single flowers.
Cinquefoil geranium is a naturalized perennial herb found in the central Coast and San Francisco Bay Area bioregions in moist, shaded conifer forest sites at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to light pink flowers 6 to 9 millimeters long with rounded or slightly notched petals. Growing with decumbent or ascending stems 15 to 60 centimeters tall that are covered in short, stiff, spreading hairs, it roots at the nodes. Its leaves are divided nearly to the base with 5 to 7 wedge-shaped segments, creating a delicate, lacy appearance. The fruit develops as smooth mericarp with a narrow 10 to 11 millimeter beak.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; distinguished by trailing habit and single flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shaded sites, conifer forest
Elevation: < 500 m
California counties: Marin, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey
Outside California: native to Australia
Bloom period
Geranium potentilloides blooms May-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 potentilloides native to California?
No. Geranium potentilloides is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Geranium potentilloides bloom?
Geranium potentilloides blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Geranium potentilloides grow?
Geranium potentilloides occurs in Marin, Alameda, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Santa Cruz, Monterey, at elevations of < 500 m.
What plant family does Geranium potentilloides belong to?
Geranium potentilloides is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Geranium.
What habitat does Geranium potentilloides grow in?
Geranium potentilloides grows in Moist, shaded sites, conifer 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.