Dove's-foot crane's-bill

Dove's-foot crane's-bill (Geranium molle) is in the Geranium family family (Geraniaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,975 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Dove's-foot crane's-bill: observations by month (U.S.)

About Dove's-foot crane's-bill

Geranium molle, the Dove's-foot Crane's-bill or Dovesfoot Geranium, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Geraniaceae family.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Dove's-foot crane's-bill by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Geranium family)

Redstem Stork's-billErodium cicutarium

Wild GeraniumGeranium maculatum

Mediterranean Stork's-billErodium botrys

Herb RobertGeranium robertianum

Musk Stork's-BillErodium moschatum

Cut-leaved crane's-billGeranium dissectum

Carolina crane's-billGeranium carolinianum

Little-RobinGeranium purpureum

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ