Bloomipedia
Richardson's geranium (Geranium richardsonii)
Photo: Rusty via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Richardson's geranium

Geranium richardsonii

Richardson's geranium (Geranium richardsonii) is a flowering plant in the Geraniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly June–August across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Richardson's geranium is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 6 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in June–August.

12states where USDA records it
6Bloomipedia state lists include it
8,449U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Geranium richardsonii is a species of geranium known by the common name Richardson's geranium. It is native to western North America from Alaska to New Mexico, where it can be found in a number of habitats, especially mountains and forests. This is a perennial herb varying in maximum height from 20 to 80 centimeters. The plant grows from a tough, woody taproot and older plants develop rhizomes.

  • It belongs to the Geraniaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 12 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota. NatureServe
  • In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • In New Mexico, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as purple. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 3 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 2,934 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #51 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,263 research-grade sightings of it in New Mexico, ranking #32 among the 152 flowers on our New Mexico list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 848 research-grade sightings of it in Utah, ranking #70 among the 153 flowers on our Utah list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (1,182 records)
Bloom time in the 6 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
ColoradoNativeJune–August2,934
New MexicoNativeJune–September1,263
UtahNativeJune–August848
WyomingNativefew records (45)679
MontanaNativefew records (21)588
South DakotaNativefew records (27)304

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
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Colorado.
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Mexico. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
Wyoming
No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
South Dakota
No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

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 richardson's geranium in 12 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Colorado counties with USDA records: Archuleta, Boulder, Clear Creek, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, El Paso, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Lake, Larimer, Mesa, Mineral, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, Teller.

New Mexico counties with USDA records: Bernalillo, Catron, Cibola, Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, Taos, Valencia.

Utah counties with USDA records: Beaver, Box Elder, Cache, Carbon, Daggett, Davis, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Grand, Iron, Juab, Kane, Millard, Morgan, Piute, Rich, Salt Lake, San Juan, Sanpete, Sevier, Summit, Tooele, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch, Washington, Wayne, Weber.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Richardson's geranium a medium shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 6.1 to 7.6 and winter lows down to -38 °F.

Shade tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
High
Soil textures it is adapted to
medium, fine
Soil pH range
6.1 to 7.6
Minimum temperature tolerated
-38 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
100
Annual precipitation range
10 to 30 inches
Minimum root depth
4 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
High
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Short
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Spring to Summer
Can be propagated by
bare root, container, cuttings, seed
Commercial availability
Field Collections Only

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GERI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 173 counties across 11 states; the most are in Colorado (33), Utah (29), Montana (20).

Other Geranium on Bloomipedia (8): Wild geranium, Herb robert, Carolina crane's-bill, Dove's-foot crane's-bill, 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 Colorado flowers

Redstem stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium)

Redstem stork's-bill

Erodium cicutarium

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: March–May
Pinewoods geranium (Geranium caespitosum)

Pinewoods geranium

Geranium caespitosum

Native

🌼 Blooms in CO: June–August
Great mullein (Verbascum thapsus)

Great mullein

Verbascum thapsus

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in CO: July–October

Sources