Spotted Geranium (Geranium maculatum 'Espresso')
jer-AY-nee-um mak-yew-LAY-tum 'Espresso'

Deciduous Perennial in the Geraniaceae Family
 
Buy Spotted Geranium
Size Notes Price Availability
#1 gallon Field $15.23

Pale lavender-pink flowers over very attractive red-brown foliage.

Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum), is favorite and lovely perennial that can grow up to 2 ft. tall. It has upright, usually unbranched stems, and it flowers in spring to early summer. It is the showiest of the Illinois native geraniums, with large flowers 1-1.5" in diameter, with five rose-purple, pale or violet-purple (rarely white) petals and ten stamens.  The distinctive leaves have 5 big divisions like an exaggerated maple leaf.

Here in the Chicago area, flowers appear from April - June. Wild geranium are deer and rabbit resistant (bitter taste and pungent scent), low maintenance plants. They can handle moist soil but also are drought resistant, they attract butterflies but repel unwanted insects.

Pros

  • Geranium maculatum is native the the region, so it's well adapted to and beneficial for local ecosystems
  • Once established, it requires minimal care
  • Well-loved by pollinators, but generally unappealing to deer and rabbits
  • Early spring blooms
  • Shade tolerant

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    Cons

  • Species is less showy and shorter bloom period than some hybrid
  • Woodland look may not be appropriate for formal gardens
  • Prefers a bit of shade: Foliage can yellow or die back in hot, dry conditions

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    Plant Data

    Mature Size 8 - 12 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
    Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
    Moisture Tolerance Medium
    Zones 3a - 9b (Usually hardy to -40° F)
    Tags Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Wildlife, Container, Deciduous, Deer Resistant, Drought Tolerant, Filler, Formal Garden, Full Sun, Good for Cottage Garden, Good for Cut Flowers, Good for Rain Garden, Low Maintenance, Medium, Medium, Most Popular, Nativar, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Rabbit Resistant, Repels Unwanted Insects, Showy Flowers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Poor Soil, Well-Drained Soil
    Bloom Period May to September
    Flower Color Lavender
     

    More Info from Experts
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    Pricing and Availability History

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    Limited Availability

    We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!


    Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

    Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

    Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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    No Pricing or Availability Right Now

    We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

    Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!