Geranium maculatum, Wild Geranium, spotted Cranesbill, spotted geranium, crowfoot

Last updated: February 8, 2026Reviewed date: February 8, 2026Reading time: 12 min read

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Article Summary

Geranium maculatum commonly known as Wild Geranium is a clump-forming woodland perennial plant from the genus Geranium and belongs to the Geraniaceae family. The plant is native to eastern North America, all the way from Manitoba and Quebec to Alabama and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota. Apart from wild geranium the plant is also known as spotted Cranesbill, spotted geranium, crowfoot, cranesbill, wild crane’s-bill, American...

Key Takeaways

This article explains Wild Geranium Facts in simple medical language.
This article explains Wild Geranium Scientific Classification in simple medical language.
This article explains Health benefits of Wild Geranium in simple medical language.
This article explains Traditional uses and benefits of Wild Geranium in simple medical language.

Educational health guideWritten for patient understanding and clinical awareness.

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Geranium is derived from the Greek word geranos, which means crane. Though this name seems questioning, it actually refers to the shape of the seed pod, not the flower. Papery seed capsules, which split lengthwise into five long peels, look like a crane or stork. Cranesbill and Storksbill are two other common names of Wild Geranium describing this likeness. Maculatum, the species name, means mottled and refers to the dark greenish- brown leaves which are rather mottled. However we call this flower Wild Geranium, “wild” is truly a contradiction. Wild Geranium is actually a true geranium. The term wild is used to differentiate this flower from other false species.

Wild Geranium Facts

Name	Wild Geranium
Scientific Name	Geranium maculatum
Native	Eastern North America, all the way from Manitoba and Quebec to Alabama and west to Oklahoma and South Dakota
Common Names	Spotted Cranesbill, Spotted geranium, Crowfoot, Wild Geranium, Cranesbill, Wild crane’s-bill, American cranesbill, alumroot, alum bloom, storksbill, chocolate flower, Chocolate Flower, Old Maid’s Night Cap, Rockweed, Sailor’s Knot, Shameface
Name in Other Languages	Danish: Amerikansk storkenæb English: Spotted crane’s-bill, Spotted geranium, Wild crane’s-bill, Wild geranium, Crowfoot French: Géranium macule Norwegian: Flekkstorkenebb Swedish: Fläcknäva
Plant Growth Habit	Moulding rhizomatous, clump-forming herbaceous perennial groundcover
Growing Climates	Woodland areas, thickets, wet or damp places, in swamps, marshes, moist woodlands, mesic deciduous woods, alluvial forests, upland woods, savannas, meadows, shaded seeps, rocky glades, moist prairies from adjacent woods
Soil	Easily grown in moist, average, medium, well-drained humusy soil in full sun to part shade. Plants tolerate loamy, sandy or poor infertile soils, acidic pH, short term drought and full sun if sufficient moisture is present
Plant Size	2 feet (60cm) and a spread of 18 inches (45cm)
Root	Creeping roots are woody, knotty, and about 1 inch thick, with creamy white centers
Rhizomes	Long, and 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) thick, with numerous branches. It is covered with scars, showing the remains of stems of previous year’s growth. When dry it has a somewhat purplish color internally
Leaf	Four to five inch long dark green leaves (2-3) on long stalks connected to the stem. Leaves are coarsely toothed
Flowering Season	April to July
Flower	Pink to lavender flowers with five petals are produced late spring into early summer. They may be solitary or held in loose clusters
Fruit Shape & Size	Beak-like pod about one inch long. As it matures, the carpels retract and the tiny seed are expelled away from the mother plant
Fruit Color	Brown
Propagation	Divisions of the rhizomes or from seed
Taste	Sour, bitter
Plant Parts Used	Leaves, Roots, rhizomes
Precautions	Avoid use during pregnancy and breast feeding. The root contains large amounts of tannins which can be toxic to the liver if used for long periods.

Wild Geranium Scientific Classification

Scientific Name: Geranium maculatum

Rank	Scientific Name & (Common Name)
Kingdom	Plantae (Plants)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta (Vascular plants)
Infrakingdom	Streptophyta (land plants)
Superdivision	Spermatophyta (Seed plants)
Division	Magnoliophyta (Flowering plants)
Subdivision	Spermatophytina (spermatophytes, seed plants, phanérogames)
Class	Magnoliopsida (Dicotyledons)
Subclass	Rosidae
Superorder	Rosanae
Order	Geraniales
Family	Geraniaceae (Geranium family)
Genus	Geranium L. (geranium)
Species	Geranium maculatum L. (spotted geranium)
Synonyms	Geranium album Myers Geranium maculatum f. albiflorum Raf. Geranium maculatum f. albiflorum Raf. ex House Geranium maculatum f. maculatum Geranium maculatum var. albiflorum Raf. Geranium maculatum var. album H.M.Myers Geranium maculatum var. album Lauman Geranium maculatum var. diphyllum Raf. Geranium maculatum var. humile Raf. Geranium maculatum var. macrophyllum Raf. Geranium maculatum var. parviflora N.Coleman Geranium maculatum var. pleno Lauman Geranium maculatum var. plenum Lauman Geranium maculatum var. viride Raf.

Plant Description

Wild germanium is a moulding rhizomatous, clump-forming herbaceous perennial ground cover that grows about 2 feet (60 cm) tall and 18 inches (45 cm) wide. The plant is found growing in woodland areas, thickets, wet or damp places, in swamps, marshes, moist woodlands, mesic deciduous woods, alluvial forests, upland woods, savannas, meadows, shaded seeps, rocky glades and moist prairies from adjacent woods. The plant is easily grown in moist, average, medium, well-drained humusy soil in full sun to part shade. Plants usually tolerate loamy, sandy or poor infertile soils, acidic pH, short term drought and full sun if adequate moisture is present. The plant has creeping roots that are woody, knotty, and about 1 inch thick, with creamy white centers. Rhizomes are long, and 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) thick, with numerous branches. It is covered with scars, showing the remains of stems of previous year’s growth. When dry it has a somewhat purplish color internally.

Leaves

The leaves are semi evergreen, opposite, palmately lobed with five or seven deeply cut lobes, 10–12.5 cm (4–5 in) broad, with a petiole up to 30 cm (12 in) long and pubescent with green to reddish color arising from the rootstock. They are deeply parted into three or five divisions, each of which is again cleft and toothed. The leaf margin is irregularly and coarsely toothed or cleft all around. Leaf surface is medium green and pubescent. Lower leaf surface has coarse white hairs like those on the petiole while the upper surface is covered with fine white hairs.

Flowers

The upturned flowers are borne at the top of hairy stems in loose clusters of 2-5 (a corymb or floppy umbel). Each 2.5–4 cm (1.0–1.6 in) diameter flower has five rounded petals, five green sepals and ten yellow stamens surrounding the single pistil with five carpels. The petals are generally rose-pink to lavender, but may be darker purple or rarely white, with fine, slightly darker-colored lines running along their length that function as nectar guides. The petals are marked with darker lines along the length, and often fade to white at the base. The 5 green sepals behind the flower are about half as long as the petals, and hairy. In the Northern Hemisphere, they appear from April to June (precise dates depend on the latitude).

Fruits

Flowers are followed by an erect beak-like seed capsule, covered with hair, develops at maturity. The capsule has five cells, each containing one seed and when mature, the outer carpels of the capsule curl backward to expose the seeds. The central stem then extends upward raising the 5 seeds, each then uncoiling its own spring-like stalk, with the remnants of the style held above them. The entire contraption resembles a wrought iron chandelier with five lamps. Each seed has long hairs attached and the coiled stalks have very short hairs.

Health benefits of Wild Geranium

Few of the well known health benefits of Wild geranium are mentioned below

1. Canker Sores

Wild Geranium is an astringent herb that can be used as a mouth rinse to soothe the pain of canker sores. The herb consists of good amount of tannins that can bind up fluids and possibly relieve infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation. They are used as a mouth rinse and then are spit out.

Diarrhea

Wild Geranium has been used by several North American indigenous tribes to treat diarrhea. The tannins in cranesbill likely account for the anti-diarrheal activity.

It has been used by several of the indigenous tribes of North America to treat diarrhea. The tannins in Wild Geranium likely account for the anti-diarrheal activity—although there has been little scientific research to clarify Wild Geranium’s constituents and actions.

Traditional uses and benefits of Wild Geranium

Whole plant, but especially the root, is antiseptic, highly astringent, diuretic, styptic and tonic.
An infusion of the whole plant, or of the roots alone, is used in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, irritable bowel syndrome, cholera, kidney complaints, bleeding and a wide range of other ailments.
Externally, it is applied to purulent wounds, hemorrhoids, thrush, vaginal discharges and inflammations of the mouth.
Root and rhizome of Wild Geranium plant is used in herbal medicine.
Powdered form of root is used to heal Wounds and Swollen feet.
Fresh leaves are used to treat Insect stings and as a Mosquito repellent.
Cranesbill is used to stop abnormal bleeding related to Menstruation and Uterine problems.
It can be used as a Mouthwash or gargle for mouth and throat infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation, tonsillitis and toothaches.
It is effective against bacteria causing Tuberculosis.
Wild geranium is a woodland herb whose roots can be gathered for the herbal apothecary as a helpful remedy for an upset stomach.
Leaf tea is a good beverage to sip to soothe a sour or upset stomach.
Leaves can also be used as an astringent mouthwash or as a topical field medicine to wash wet, weepy rashes and wounds, common foragers’ ailments.
It was used as eyewash and the powdered root, often mixed with other herbs, was used as a compress on wounds and swollen feet.
Ojibwe or Chippewa used the dried and powdered roots (rhizomes) to remedy mouth ulcers, inflamed gums and sore throat.
Blackfoot tribe used it to stop hemorrhages.
Plant was later used by the European settlers in North America for diarrhea, internal bleeding, cholera and sexually transmitted diseases.
It possesses hemostatic properties and can work as an agent to stop internal hemorrhages.
Herb is used for hemoptysis, hematuria and heavy menstrual bleeding and externally to stop bleeding and heal wounds.
The herb can be effective against thrush, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation of the mouth and throat, tonsillitis and toothaches.
It has been found that it is very active against the bacteria that cause tuberculosis.
Chippewa Indians used dried, powdered rhizomes mixed with grape juice as a mouthwash for children with thrush.
Poultice from the base or pounded roots of the plant was used to treat burns and hemorrhoids.
Boiled root was also used for toothache and crushed to a paste applied to piles.
It was used to staunch hemorrhages in the lungs, uterus, bowels and stomach as well as being used for excessive nosebleeds.
Lotion made from the root was applied to runny eyes.
Root, with cayenne pepper, was made into a decoction for typhoid fever and childhood cholera.
In the 19th century the root was used as a remedy for gastric ulcers, to relieve pain and perhaps to cure them.
An infusion of the root was given for kidney troubles and to stop a heavy menstrual flow and for period irregularities in general.

Ayurvedic Health benefits of Wild Geranium

Aphthous Ulcers: Wash the ulcers from wild geranium extract twice or thrice a day.
Diarrhea: Put 1-2 tsp of the wild Geranium rhizomes in a cup of water. Boil. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Drink three times a day.
Gingivitis: Take Catechu, Wild Geranium and Myrrh. Powder them. Add a little clove powder. Use it as a tooth powder.
Swelling: Mix Wild Geranium root powder, Talcum Powder and Phellodendron Amurense bark powder gently. Apply the mixed powder locally on the swollen region.
Dysentery: Prepare a decoction of Wild Geranium, Echinacea, Ipecacuanha. Use two-three times a day.

Precautions

A brown dye is obtained from the flowers.
The roots and the leaves are rich in tannin.
Plants are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 45 cm apart each way.
The fresh leaves can also be rubbed on insect stings and used as a mosquito repellant.

References

Safety note: This is not a prescription or diagnosis. For severe symptoms, pregnancy danger signs, children with serious illness, chest pain, breathing difficulty, stroke-like weakness, or major injury, seek urgent care.

Which doctor may help?

Start with a registered doctor or the nearest qualified health center.

What to tell the doctor

Write when the problem started and how it changed.
Bring old prescriptions, investigation reports, and current medicines.
Write allergies, pregnancy status, diabetes, kidney/liver disease, and major past illnesses.
Bring one family member if the patient is weak, elderly, confused, or a child.

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which danger signs mean I should go to hospital quickly?
Which tests are necessary now, and which can wait?
How should I take medicines safely and what side effects should I watch for?
When should I come for follow-up?

Tests to discuss

Vital signs: temperature, pulse, blood pressure, oxygen saturation
Basic physical examination by a clinician
CBC, urine test, blood sugar, or imaging only when clinically needed

Avoid these mistakes

Do not use antibiotics, steroid tablets/injections, or strong painkillers without proper medical advice.
Do not hide pregnancy, kidney disease, ulcer, allergy, or blood thinner use.
Do not delay emergency care when danger signs are present.

Medicine safety and first-aid guide

This section is for patient education only. It does not replace a doctor, pharmacist, or emergency care.

Safe first steps

Avoid heavy lifting, sudden bending, and prolonged bed rest.
Use comfortable posture and gentle movement as tolerated.
Discuss physiotherapy, X-ray, or MRI only when clinically needed.

OTC medicine safety

For mild back pain, pain-relief medicine may be discussed with a doctor or pharmacist.
Avoid repeated painkiller use if you have kidney disease, stomach ulcer, uncontrolled blood pressure, or are taking blood thinners.

Avoid these mistakes

Do not start antibiotics without a proper medical decision.
Do not use steroid tablets or injections casually for quick relief.
Do not delay emergency care because of home remedies.

Get urgent help if

Back pain with leg weakness, numbness around private area, loss of urine/stool control, fever, cancer history, or major injury needs urgent care.

Medicine names, dose, and timing must be decided by a qualified clinician or pharmacist after checking age, pregnancy, allergy, other diseases, and current medicines.

For rural patients and family caregivers

Patient health record and symptom diary

Write your symptoms, medicines already taken, test results, and questions before visiting a doctor. This note stays on your device unless you print or copy it.

Doctor to discuss: Medicine doctor / pediatrician for children / qualified clinician

Tests to discuss with doctor

Temperature chart and hydration assessment
CBC with platelet count if fever persists or dengue/other infection is possible
Urine test, malaria/dengue tests, chest evaluation, or blood culture only when clinically indicated

Questions to ask

What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
Which warning signs mean I should go to emergency care?
Which tests are really needed now?
Which medicines are safe for my age, pregnancy status, allergy, kidney/liver/stomach condition, and current medicines?
Do I need antibiotics, or is this more likely viral?

Emergency warning signs such as chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, sudden weakness, confusion, severe dehydration, major injury, or loss of bladder/bowel control need urgent medical care. Do not wait for online information.

Go to emergency care if you notice:

Severe or rapidly worsening symptoms
Breathing difficulty, chest pain, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, major injury, or severe dehydration

Doctor / service to discuss: Qualified healthcare provider; specialist depends on symptoms and examination.

Step 1
Check danger signs first
If danger signs are present, seek emergency care and do not wait for online information.
Step 2
Record the symptom story
Write when symptoms started, severity, medicines already taken, allergies, pregnancy status, and test results.
Step 3
Visit a qualified clinician
A doctor, nurse, or qualified healthcare provider can examine you and decide which tests or treatment are needed.
Step 4
Do only useful tests
Do tests after clinical assessment. Avoid unnecessary tests, random antibiotics, or repeated medicines without diagnosis.
Step 5
Follow up and return early if worse
If symptoms worsen, new warning signs appear, or treatment is not helping, return for review quickly.

Rural patient practical tips

Take a written symptom diary and all previous prescriptions/test reports.
Do not hide medicines already taken, even herbal or over-the-counter medicines.
Ask which warning signs mean urgent referral to hospital.

This roadmap is for education. A real diagnosis and treatment plan requires history, examination, and clinical judgment.

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Emergency first: Severe chest pain, breathing trouble, unconsciousness, stroke signs, severe injury, heavy bleeding, or rapidly worsening symptoms need urgent local medical care now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.