Geranium texanum
Texas geranium
no rights reserved · CC0
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Geranium texanum (Texas geranium) is a non-native California herb in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by single historical collection, distinguished by small pale flowers.
Texas geranium is a naturalized annual herb found in the central Coast Ranges, specifically collected once in 1926 near Olema in Marin County, occurring in clearings and disturbed areas at elevations below 100 meters. Flowering from March to April, this plant produces pale purple or white flowers with rounded petals 4 to 5 millimeters long. Growing with erect or decumbent stems 10 to 45 centimeters tall covered in reflexed and appressed nonglandular hairs, it has a distinctive growth pattern. Its leaves are deeply divided, with 5 to 7 rhombic segments spanning 2.2 to 6 centimeters wide, cut approximately 0.75 to 0.9 of the way to the base. The fruit develops as a smooth mericarp 3 to 3.5 millimeters long, with a narrow beak 11 to 12 millimeters in length.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 12 sympatric species; single historical collection, distinguished by small pale flowers
Habitat and range
Habitat: Clearings, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 100 m
Outside California: south-central United States, northeastern Mexico, alien in Azores
Bloom period
Geranium texanum blooms Mar-Apr.
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 texanum native to California?
No. Geranium texanum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Geranium texanum bloom?
Geranium texanum blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Geranium texanum belong to?
Geranium texanum is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Geranium.
What habitat does Geranium texanum grow in?
Geranium texanum grows in Clearings, disturbed areas.
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.