Flower profile

Herb robert

Geranium robertianum

Herb robert (Geranium robertianum) is a flowering plant in the Geraniaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Herb robert is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 5 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

26states where USDA records it

5Bloomipedia state lists include it

28,382U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Michigan, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington

🚫

Regulated invasive plant in Washington and Oregon. It's on those states' official invasive plant lists (Washington: Class B noxious weed (control required in listed regions); Oregon: "B" noxious weed (sale and transport prohibited)). Please don't plant or share it there. ^{WAC 16-750 OAR 603-052-1200}

Quick look

Geranium robertianum, commonly known as herb-robert or, in North America, as Robert's geranium, is a species of cranesbill that is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere and introduced to some countries in the southern. It is common in woods, hedges, gardens, and on waste ground, and can also be found on shingle beaches and limestone pavements.
From Wikipedia's article Geranium robertianum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Geraniaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, biennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 26 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
NatureServe lists it as native to Washington, New York, Vermont and Michigan. ^NatureServe
NatureServe lists it as not native to Oregon. ^NatureServe
In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. ^iNaturalist
In Oregon, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 8,999 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #7 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,999 research-grade sightings of it in Oregon, ranking #23 among the 184 flowers on our Oregon list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 4,081 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #56 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (6,673 records)

Bloom time in the 5 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Washington	Native	April–July	8,999
Oregon	Introduced	April–June	4,999
New York	Native	May–July	4,081
Vermont	Native	May–October	2,033
Michigan	Native	May–July	1,855

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)

Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}

NatureServe global

G5 Secure worldwide. ^NatureServe

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 5 states.

See each state

Oregon: Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Oregon. ^{OAR 603-073-0070}
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Vermont: Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. ^{Vermont E&T list}
Michigan: Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. ^{R 299.1028}

Washington

No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.

Rare elsewhere

Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: MD (S1), RI (S1), TN (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records herb robert in 26 states.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

Washington counties with USDA records: Clallam, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, King, Kitsap, Klickitat, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom.

Oregon counties with USDA records: Benton, Clackamas, Douglas, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Greene, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Schenectady, Schoharie, St. Lawrence, Suffolk, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Yates.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 264 counties across 23 states; the most are in Michigan (45), New York (43), Pennsylvania (36).

Other Geranium on Bloomipedia (8): Wild geranium, Carolina crane's-bill, Dove's-foot crane's-bill, Richardson's geranium, Sticky geranium, Pinewoods geranium, Shining crane's-bill, Woolly cranesbill.

More from the Geraniaceae family (11 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Redstem stork's-bill, Mediterranean stork's-bill, Musk stork's-bill.

More Washington flowers

Redstem stork's-bill

Erodium cicutarium

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May

Salal

Gaultheria shallon

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile GERO.
iNaturalist, Geranium robertianum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Geranium robertianum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (9):
Show all 9 state lists
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Geranium robertianum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Chelsea Carroll via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.