Geranium rotundifolium
roundleaf geranium
Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia
SunFull Sun
Overview
Geranium rotundifolium is a slender annual 4-16 inches (10-40 cm) tall with soft, hairy, branching stems that spread and ascend. The leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, 0.4-1.6 inches (1-4 cm) wide, divided about halfway into five to nine broad, shallowly toothed lobes, giving a more rounded outline than most cranesbills. From late spring through summer it bears small flowers 0.3-0.4 inch (7-10 mm) across with five rounded, un-notched pink petals, carried in pairs. Each flower is followed by a beaked fruit that splits into five one-seeded segments, flinging the seeds as the column dries. It germinates mainly in autumn and spring and self-seeds freely. The plant grows on dry banks, walls, roadsides, and cultivated ground, favoring warm, light soils. A limitation in cultivated areas is its persistence as a weed, with seedlings appearing in successive flushes through the growing season.
Native Range
Geranium rotundifolium is native to Europe, North Africa, and western and central Asia. It has naturalized in North America and other temperate regions, growing on dry, disturbed, and cultivated ground.Suggested Uses
Geranium rotundifolium is not usually grown as an ornamental and occurs mainly as a weed of gardens, walls, and dry waste ground. Where present it forms low cover on dry soils and supports small bees and hoverflies. It tolerates hot, dry positions where many plants struggle.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'4"
Width/Spread6" - 1'
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established