Geranium pusillum
Small flowered geranium
(c) Edoardo Nardelli, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Geranium pusillum (Small flowered geranium) is a non-native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by 5 fertile stamens and tiny petals.
Small flowered geranium is a naturalized annual found in northern California Coast, southern Sierra Nevada foothills, northern Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern Sierra Nevada in disturbed open places and dry grasslands at elevations below 500 meters. Flowering from March to September, this plant produces pink to violet flowers with petals 2 to 3 millimeters long, often with a slight notch. Growing with decumbent to erect stems 10 to 50 centimeters tall that are often branched and covered in soft hairs, it has a spreading habit. Its leaves are divided into 7 wedge-shaped segments, with blades 1.5 to 4.8 centimeters wide, cut nearly to the base. The fruit consists of smooth mericarp with a narrow beak 7 to 9 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 16 sympatric species; distinguished by 5 fertile stamens and tiny petals
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed open places, dry grassland
Elevation: < 500 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, eastern North America, native to Europe, northern Africa, western Asia, alien in South America, New Zealand
Bloom period
Geranium pusillum blooms Mar-Sep.
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 pusillum native to California?
No. Geranium pusillum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Geranium pusillum bloom?
Geranium pusillum blooms Mar-Sep.
What plant family does Geranium pusillum belong to?
Geranium pusillum is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Geranium.
What habitat does Geranium pusillum grow in?
Geranium pusillum grows in Disturbed open places, dry grassland.
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.