Richardson's Geranium
Geranium richardsonii
- Native to:
- Canada, United States
iNaturalist: © sumarich (iNaturalist #53538377)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Geraniaceae
- Genus:
- Geranium
- Species:
- Geranium richardsonii
- USDA Symbol:
- GERI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 80 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Part Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pink
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★★☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Fuzzy-horned bumble bee (Bombus mixtus), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers habitats near streams or moist meadows
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds benefit from cold stratification for 4-8 weeks to break dormancy.
Pre-treatment: A 6-week cold moist stratification at 34 to 37°F. Sow seeds directly onto a peat-lite mix and cold chill, or stratify seeds in a 50:50 sand:peat moss mix in a ventilated ziplock bag. Moisten seed and media and allow to imbibe water overnight before placing in cooler.
Source: npn.rngr.net