Flower profile

Sticky geranium

Geranium viscosissimum

Sticky geranium (Geranium viscosissimum) is a flowering plant in the Geraniaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Sticky geranium is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 4 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–July.

12states where USDA records it

4Bloomipedia state lists include it

8,147U.S. sightings*

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

On our lists for: Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming

Quick look

Geranium viscosissimum, commonly known as the sticky purple geranium, is a perennial in the flowering plant family Geraniaceae. It is thought to be a protocarnivorous plant.
From Wikipedia's article Geranium viscosissimum, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Geraniaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a annual, 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 Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Utah. ^NatureServe
In Wyoming, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–September. ^iNaturalist
In Montana, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–August. ^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 2,322 research-grade sightings of it in Wyoming, ranking #2 among the 113 flowers on our Wyoming list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,895 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #6 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 1,283 research-grade sightings of it in Idaho, ranking #13 among the 143 flowers on our Idaho list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (825 records)

Bloom time in the 4 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Wyoming	Native	June–September	2,322
Montana	Native	May–August	1,895
Idaho	Native	May–August	1,283
Utah	Native	June–August	938

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
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.
Idaho: No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
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.
Rare elsewhere: Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: NE (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 sticky geranium in 12 states.

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recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

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

Wyoming counties with USDA records: Albany, Big Horn, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Hot Springs, Johnson, Laramie, Lincoln, Natrona, Park, Sheridan, Sublette, Sweetwater, Teton, Washakie.

Montana counties with USDA records: Beaverhead, Big Horn, Broadwater, Carbon, Cascade, Chouteau, Deer Lodge, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Golden Valley, Granite, Hill, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, Madison, Meagher, Mineral, Missoula, Park, Pondera, Powell, Rosebud, Sanders, Silver Bow, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Teton, Valley, Wheatland.

Idaho counties with USDA records: Ada, Adams, Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Blaine, Boise, Bonner, Bonneville, Butte, Camas, Caribou, Cassia, Clark, Clearwater, Custer, Elmore, Franklin, Fremont, Gem, Idaho, Kootenai, Latah, Lemhi, Lewis, Nez Perce, Oneida, Owyhee, Shoshone, Twin Falls, Valley.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Sticky geranium a low shade tolerance, none drought tolerance and low moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 7.0 to 8.0 and winter lows down to -13 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: None
Moisture use: Low
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium
Soil pH range: 7.0 to 8.0
Minimum temperature tolerated: -13 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 140
Annual precipitation range: 10 to 19 inches
Minimum root depth: 6 inches
Salinity tolerance: None
Fertility requirement: Low
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Short
Active growth period: Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed: Brown · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by: seed
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GEVI2. 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 Montana (34), Idaho (31), Utah (21).

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

Richardson's geranium

Geranium richardsonii

Native

🌼 Few flowering records in WY

Fireweed

Chamaenerion angustifolium

Native

🌼 Blooms in WY: July–August

Creeping mahonia

Berberis repens

Native

🌼 Blooms in WY: May–June

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile GEVI2.
iNaturalist, Geranium viscosissimum: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Geranium viscosissimum (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Geranium viscosissimum (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: no source found (marked "not well documented").
Photo: Laurel Meredyk via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.