Sticky Purple Geranium: A Native Wildflower That Earns Its Keep
If you’re looking for a reliable native wildflower that doesn’t demand constant attention, meet the sticky purple geranium (Geranium viscosissimum). This charming North American native might not be the showiest plant in your garden, but what it lacks in drama, it makes up for in dependability and ecological value.
What Makes This Geranium Special?
Don’t let the name fool you – while it is indeed a bit sticky to the touch, this purple-flowered beauty is nothing like those common red geraniums you see in hanging baskets. The sticky purple geranium is a true wildflower, a herbaceous perennial that’s perfectly at home in the rugged landscapes of western North America.
Standing about 3 feet tall when mature, this single-stemmed plant produces conspicuous purple flowers during mid-spring that later give way to interesting brown seed heads. The medium-textured green foliage provides a nice backdrop throughout the growing season, though don’t expect it to stick around through winter – this plant goes dormant when the cold arrives.
Where Does It Naturally Grow?
This native gem calls a impressive swath of North America home, naturally occurring across 15 states and provinces from the Canadian prairies down to California and New Mexico. You’ll find it thriving in Alberta, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Saskatchewan, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Why Gardeners Love (and Sometimes Struggle With) Sticky Purple Geranium
Here’s the honest truth about this plant: it’s a bit of a free spirit. With a rapid growth rate and relatively short lifespan, sticky purple geranium tends to behave more like a wildflower than a well-mannered garden perennial. It doesn’t resprout if cut back and has no vegetative spread, so what you plant is essentially what you get.
The pros:
- Extremely low maintenance once established
- Attracts pollinators with its spring blooms
- Tolerates shade better than many wildflowers
- Requires minimal water and fertilizer
- Perfect for naturalized areas and wildflower meadows
The challenges:
- Short-lived (you’ll need to replant every few years)
- Can self-seed rapidly in ideal conditions
- Not suitable for formal garden beds
- Goes completely dormant in winter
Perfect Garden Scenarios
Sticky purple geranium shines brightest in casual, naturalized settings. Think wildflower meadows, native plant gardens, or those challenging spots where you want something pretty but low-maintenance. It’s particularly valuable in xeriscape gardens where water conservation is key.
This plant works beautifully in mountain gardens and is an excellent choice for gardeners in USDA hardiness zones 6-9 who want to support local ecosystems. Its tolerance for both wetland and upland conditions (depending on your region) makes it quite adaptable.
Growing Sticky Purple Geranium Successfully
Soil Requirements: This plant is surprisingly particular about soil texture, preferring medium-textured soils over clay or sand. It also likes alkaline conditions with a pH between 7.0 and 8.0.
Water and Sun: Once established, it’s quite drought-tolerant and actually prefers low-moisture conditions. Unlike many wildflowers, it tolerates shade well, making it useful for partly shaded native gardens.
Climate Needs: It requires at least 140 frost-free days and can handle temperatures as low as -13°F. Annual precipitation between 10-19 inches is ideal.
Starting from Seed
The good news? Sticky purple geranium is easy to grow from seed, and seeds are routinely available from native plant suppliers. With about 55,000 seeds per pound and high seedling vigor, a little goes a long way.
Plant seeds in spring for mid-spring blooms the following year. The plant will produce seeds from summer through fall, and if conditions are right, you might find it self-seeding around your garden.
The Bottom Line
Sticky purple geranium isn’t for every garden or every gardener. If you prefer tidy, predictable plants that stay exactly where you put them, this might not be your cup of tea. But if you’re creating habitat for native pollinators, establishing a wildflower meadow, or simply want a tough, attractive plant that thrives on neglect, this native geranium could be exactly what you’re looking for.
Just remember: embrace its wild nature, give it room to do its thing, and enjoy the spring show of purple blooms that’ll have the local bees buzzing with excitement.
