geranium seed to flower Oregon Geranium Seeds (Geranium oreganum) — Northwest Meadowscapes

geranium seed to flower Oregon Geranium Seeds (Geranium oreganum) — Northwest MeadowscapesOregon geranium is a soft leaved spring perennial, a woodland edge and oak savanna species that is luminous in filtered light. Pollinated by small bees and flies, this May July blooming wildflower provides both early season nectar and a lush groundcover understory for wildlife. Peer beneath it for frogs and newts. Plant it in woodland edges and urban meadows to attract the tansy mustard sweat bee (Lasioglossum sisymbrii), the common little leafcutter

Oregon geranium is a soft-leaved spring perennial, a woodland edge and oak savanna species that is luminous in filtered light.

Pollinated by small bees and flies, this May-July blooming wildflower provides both early-season nectar and a lush groundcover understory for wildlife. Peer beneath it for frogs and newts. Plant it in woodland edges and urban meadows to attract the tansy-mustard sweat bee (Lasioglossum sisymbrii), the common little leafcutter bee (Megachile brevis), the bufflehead mason bee (Osmia bucephala), the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria). Note the towhees that poke and prod within the foliage, plucking at caterpillars of the geranium plume moth (Amblyptilia pica). Deer on the other hand seem to ignore this plant. 

While Oregon geranium is specifically native across Oregon and northern California, low elevation gardeners can probably easily grow it from about southeastern Alaska to Big Sur (maybe even further south). It’s a plant that occurs mostly in and around moist (but not wet) ground. Ranging from about 6- to 18-inches tall, the pink/lavender flowers and interesting dissected foliage make it an entirely attractive bedding plant, completely on par with the various non-native bedding plant geraniums found in nurseries. 

Oregon geranium seems to strongly benefit from 90+ day cold/wet stratification which is probably why the plant is range-limited, and not more widely available in the commercial nursery trade. Once the seed dormancy is broken, young plants grow rapidly as long as they are provided with ample moisture, dappled shade, and rich soils. Protection from larger, more aggressive species is also a key to this plant succeeding -- push back the grasses while this plant establishes itself. 

20 seeds (0.3 grams).