Geranium oreganum (Western Geranium)

Western Geranium (Geranium oreganum), also called Oregon Cranesbill, is a Pacific Northwest endemic hardy geranium found across Oregon and Washington meadows, open woodlands, and forest edges. Mounded clumps of deeply palmate green leaves carry clusters of rose-violet five-petaled cup flowers in late spring and early summer.

A gentle bee and bumblebee magnet. Native bees and small butterflies also work the flowers, and hoverflies come for the pollen. The flowers give way to the signature 'cranesbill' beaked seed capsules that spring-load and fling seeds several feet.

Montana Indian and Salish peoples used G. oreganum for medicinal preparations including antidiarrheal and dermatological uses.

Coastal-friendly. Native across the Oregon coast meadows and forest-edge communities.

Pairs with Aquilegia formosa, Iris tenax, Camassia leichtlinii, Achillea millefolium, and Erigeron glaucus for a PNW meadow palette.