Family Description

The Geranium or Cranebill family is a group of herbs or semi-woody dicots consisting of 11 genera and 650 species with wide distribution in both hemispheres. Leaves are palmately veined and usually with alternate arrangement. Flowers are 5-merous, bisexual, with regular symmetry and borne singly or in terminal peduncles. Colors are primarily in shades of red, pink and purple, but other colors occur. The fruit is a long-beaked capsule.

The most characteristic features of the family are:

rotate flowers
characteristic long-beaked capsule

Plants in this family are easy to grow, doing best in sunny or lightly shaded locations. Many species lack heat tolerance. Propagation is primarily by cuttings, but seeds are used to a limited extent. Seeds germinate well with temperatures above 70°F. Common pests associated with this family are those such as virus or bacteria which are transmitted with cuttings.

Important genera belonging to this family include Erodium, Geranium, and Pelargonium.

Geranium ibericum (left) with typical long-beaked capsule and Pelargonium domesticum showing typical palmate veination.

Representative Species

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Geranium sanguineum

Hardy Cranesbill

Pelargonium graveolens

Scented Geranium

Pelargonium x hortorum

Zonal Geranium

Pelargonium peltatum

Ivy-leaved Geranium