Geranium gardneri

Rough Crane's-bill

Prostrate or scrambling perennial herb with rough, short to long recurved hairs & thick, tapering taproot.

SynonymSeparated from Geranium solanderi; Geranium sp. 4
FamilyGeraniaceae
StoreyLower storey
Sizestems to 2 m long
Plant groupingHerbs & Groundcovers <1m
LeavesCoarsely haired, kidney shaped leaves 1-4 cm long, triangular on upper stems, deeply divided into 3-5 broad, sometimes toothed lobes, again divided 2-3 times; final lobes pointed or rounded ending in a fine point.
Flower colourBright pink, becoming white towards centre
Flowering timeOctober to April
FlowersSingle or paired flowers, to 9 mm wide, on stalks 5-16 mm long, anthers off white with purple lines. Sepals narrow, pointed, hairy with hairy translucent margin. Beaked fruit to 16 mm long.
Bird attractingNo
Butterfly attractingNo
Frog habitatNo
Growing conditionsMoist soils in high rainfall, open riparian woodland. Semi shade. Restricted distribution within the Shire.
Garden useA spreading herb for underplanting in moist sheltered positions.
Commercially availableNever
Conservation statusSignificant within the Shire. Known from very few local sites.
Aboriginal Use Food - taproot roasted