Geranium richardsonii
Richardson's geranium
(c) Tom Kennedy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Geranium richardsonii (Richardson's geranium) is a native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by large white purple-veined flowers and coarsely pitted seeds.
Richardson's geranium is a California native perennial found in the Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains, and Warner Mountains in moist meadows and conifer forests at elevations of 1,200 to 2,700 meters. Flowering from May to September, this plant produces white to pink flowers with purple veining, 14 to 20 millimeters long, each petal rounded and partially hairy. Growing with erect stems 15 to 90 centimeters tall that have soft hairs, it forms an upright clump with distinctive foliage. Its leaf blades are deeply divided into 5 to 7 rhombic segments, each blade measuring 4.4 to 11.3 centimeters wide, creating an intricate, lacy appearance. The distinctive fruit develops as a smooth mericarp with a narrow 13 to 17 millimeter beak, typical of the geranium family.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 7 sympatric species; distinguished by large white purple-veined flowers and coarsely pitted seeds
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist sites, meadows, conifer forest
Elevation: 1200-2700 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mariposa, Riverside, Fresno, El Dorado, Tulare, Mono, Inyo, Trinity, Nevada, Modoc, Madera, Alpine, Lassen, Tuolumne, Placer, Calaveras, Los Angeles, Siskiyou
Outside California: to Canada, Rocky Mountains
Bloom period
Geranium richardsonii blooms May-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 richardsonii native to California?
Yes. Geranium richardsonii is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Geranium richardsonii bloom?
Geranium richardsonii blooms May-Sep.
Where in California does Geranium richardsonii grow?
Geranium richardsonii occurs in San Bernardino, Mariposa, Riverside, Fresno, El Dorado, Tulare, Mono, Inyo and other counties, at elevations of 1200-2700 m.
What plant family does Geranium richardsonii belong to?
Geranium richardsonii is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Geranium.
What habitat does Geranium richardsonii grow in?
Geranium richardsonii grows in Moist sites, meadows, 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.