Carolina Geranium

Geranium carolinianum

Weed Description
Most often a biennial, forming a basal rosette initially with subsequent stem elongation and branching as the plant matures. May also occur as a winter or summer annual. Found throughout the United States.

Seedlings
Cotyledons are hairy, broad (6 mm wide), kidney-shaped, green above and pink below. Young leaves are hairy on both surfaces, alternate, and have leaf veins arising from a common point (palmately veined). Petioles of young plants are pink and covered with hairs that point downward. Margins of leaves are deeply lobed.

Leaves
Alternate near base, opposite above, and hairy on both surfaces. Leaves (3/4 to 2 1/2 inches wide) are rounded in appearance, and deeply (palmately) divided into 5-9 segments, with each segment also lobed or toothed.

Stems
Erect, freely branching near base to 28 inches tall. Stems are usually pink to red in color and densely hairy.

Flowers
Two or more in clusters at tips of stems and branches. Petals are whitish-pink to pale purple in color, 4-6 mm long.

Roots
Fibrous with shallow taproot.

Office of Programs

University of Missouri

Carolina Geranium

Geranium carolinianum