GERANIUM MACULATUM BLOOMS IN MORRIS PARK

The Geranium maculatum blooms!  This native woodland wildflower grows frequently in Morris Park.  In some areas it grows in abundance and the purple flowers cover sections of the forest floor.

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

In early May in Morris Park, the blooming Geranium flowers display a range of colors from blueish- purple to pink.

The invasive exotic Alliaria petiolata, the Garlic mustard,  has become dominant in some areas, crowding out the Geranium plants. The crowding invasive often results in the flowers being hidden from sight, and we have overlooked whole patches of them in bloom.  However, since we have undertaken the task of eradicating (or at least controlling) the Garlic mustard, we have been seeing more and more blooming Geranium maculatum.

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

While removing the Garlic mustard, we have found hundreds of blooming Geranium flowers.  The Garlic Mustard is so dense that sometimes we pull up the Geranuim plants when we uproot the Garlic mustard. Of course we very carefully re-plant the native Geraniums in their exact location. Care is taken to make sure the soil is re-consolidated around the uprooted roots, and that the ground looks the same with decomposing leaves as if the Garlic mustard was never there.

  Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

 

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

This flower grows with enough frequency in Morris Park, that it seeded itself in our yard, which borders the park. Pleased with finding Geranium growing, we have since included it in our native woodland wildflower garden, having divided the volunteer population and used it as a border flower in our garden design.

 Geranium maculatum Blooms in the Garden of The Sanguine Root. Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in the Garden of The Sanguine Root. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

We recommend using Geranium maculatum in your native plant garden. It is available at nurseries.  It offers a beautiful splash of pastel color and it requires no maintainance.  It will grow year after year and develop a bigger colony and produce an abundance of flowers.

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Keep your eye out for this one in your woodland area.

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Like many native flowers in Morris Park, the Geranium maculatum has a high degree of variation. Flowers vary in size and shape as well as color.

 

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

This insect was found on the leaf.  Perhaps there is some sort of natural relationship?

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

We have noticed how some flowers, like the one pictured above is lacking in the male parts, such as stamens and anthers, which are very noticeable dark colored features found in some of the previous photos.  We figured that perhaps the plant is dioecious, meaning there are male  plants and female plants.  However it turns out there are female flowers and flowers with both sexual parts, hermaphrodites.  The Geranium maculatum is thus considered gyndioecious.

 

Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park.  Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Geranium maculatum Blooms in Morris Park. Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Note how pretty and interesting the palmately lobed leaf is.

 

 

4 Replies to “GERANIUM MACULATUM BLOOMS IN MORRIS PARK”

    1. They grow in the upland woods along the Morris Park Road trail. Plants are not allowed to be removed from the park, if everyone took a plant there would no longer be a park. However they can be obtained from nurseries. When buying native plants from a nursery, be sure that this nursery is not digging them up from the wild. A reputable nursery that grows them from seed can be counted on to sell you a handsome specimen cultivated from a thoughtfully selected population. Once you plant your new Geranium maculatum, they will spread, but not in an invasive manner. One good way is to purchase the root in the fall and plant it. In the spring, the Geranium will grow and flower.

  1. Hi Scott,

    Glad we were able to help in the identification of the geranium. We love Ridley Creek State Park and cannot wait to go back and visit. We took a look at your blog about Little Crum Creek – what a wonderful website! We will be sure to try to catch up on your posts and keep up with the new ones. We would like to visit Little Crum Creek.

    ~Sean and Isabelle

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