Geranium potentilloides aka Cinquefoil Geranium

Geranium potentilloides lives for more than two years. It belongs to the geranium family, Geraniaceae. Common names include native carrot and cinquefoil geranium. Plants For A Future lists Australia as its native range. This includes New South Wales and Tasmania. Records also place it in other Australian states. They list New Zealand and Indonesia too. Not all these records prove the plants are native. The RHS says it is not native to Britain or Ireland. It lists Geranium microphyllum as another name for the plant. But it marks the name's status as unresolved.

This plant grows about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. The source gives no width for a full-grown plant. Its root has a carrot shape, hence one common name. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects move pollen between the flowers. The evidence gives no leaf, stem, or fruit details for this species. Nor does it state when the plant blooms. The RHS describes leaves and flowers for the genus alone. Those details cannot show how this species looks.

In the wild, it grows in open forests. It likes damp sites but seldom grows in swamps. Plants For A Future lists moist soil and full sun. It says the plant does not grow in shade. It lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. Soil can range from weak acid to weak alkali. Its growing notes suggest soil with a fair level of nutrients. The soil should hold water. But the source says little is known about growing it. Its hardiness in Britain is not clear. Milder areas may offer sites where it could grow.

The source lists garden beds as one place to grow it. Raise new plants from seed or split grown plants. Sow seed in spring in a cold frame. Once large enough to handle, move seedlings into their own pots. Plant them outside in summer. Split grown plants in spring or autumn. Plant large pieces straight into their final sites. Keep small pieces in pots until they root well. The evidence lists no pests or diseases for this species.

The source lists the root as food, raw or cooked. It has starch but tastes bitter and astringent, or mouth-drying. Young roots may taste less bitter than old ones. Plants For A Future rates its food value as low. It lists no known hazards, medical uses, or other uses. This does not prove it is safe for pets.