Geranium richardsonii / Richardson’s geranium

Adjectives: clonal, drought tolerant, exposed, forest openings, geranium-like leaves, interesting bits, native, understory, widespread

See also: Geranium viscossisimum / sticky geranium

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This is supposedly the most widespread native geranium in North America, but I have significant trouble convincing myself that any plant I find is actually this species. The problem, for me, is that the flowers can range from white to pink, and the flowers of sticky geranium range from pink to white. Both have dark lavender veins

But following the net-literature as well as I can, G. richardsonii has leaves with hairs only along the veins on the lower sides, whereas leaves of G. viscosissium, are sticky-hairy all over. They are, however, too small to see without at least a hand lens, and this isn’t, like, really sticky.

Both species have 5 to 7 lobed leaves, and to me, it seems that Richardson’s may have deeper and sharper lobes. The petioles of Richardson’s are long and the leaves become more reddish as they age. All this is too vague to say much to me regarding separating the species.

Richardson’s has 1-3 flowers atop small-leaved flowering stalks. The five petals have rounded tips and are up to ¾” long. The purple veins run lengthwise with cross veins between them. The petals are separated by green sepals—with a reddish spike at the tip—growing from below. Supposedly, the petals are also hairy/sticky at the base. The center of the flower is greenish, whereas sticky geraniums with pink petals have red centers. I don’t know about pink Richardson’s or white stickies. The flowers have 10 stamens.

Richardson’s geranium occurs in a variety of habitats, most commonly found in moist areas. But still they are moderately tolerant of drought. So if you are in, say, a riparian area such as stream terraces, alluvial benches, wet valley bottoms, and stream and lake margins, and see white geraniums, Richardson’s is likely.

Forgetting any attempt to distinguish the two species, Richardson’s geranium grows from a tough, woody taproot. Older plants develop rhizomes, so it doesn’t depend on seeds for propagation. Still, there are seeds. Like sticky geranium, Richardson’s is an active “ballist”, meaning it expels its seeds ballistically, throwing them several feet. Rhizomes gain importance by the short viability of the seeds in the soil… no more than one winter.

Interesting bits – Cheyenne Indians snuffed a powder of pulverized, dried leaves to control nosebleeds.