Carolina geranium
Common Name:
geranium, Carolina
Scientific Name:
Geranium carolinianum
Family:
Geraniaceae
Lifecycle:
Annual
Features
Rosette-like annual plant. Leaves solitary arising from plant base, finely divided, palmate. Stem can be green to purple depending on fertility level with distinct forking of branches. Stems rough with stiff, hair-like appendages. Flowers small white, five petals. Fruit an elongated capsule up to 5 to 8 cm in length with a distinct sharp point.
Description
Alternate name, ‘crane’s bill’ due to elongated beak-like appendage of the seed pod. Common winter annual weed in the southeast. Not common in dense, closely mowed turf as it is not well adapted to mowing. Common more in ornamental beds and thin turf. Can be difficult to control with herbicides if well established, requiring repeat applications of phenoxy-type herbicides. However, high densities are only common in unimproved turfgrass.