Edible Parts: Flowers  Leaves
Edible Uses:

The leaves and flowers are edible. Flowers are the best fresh edible portion, while leaves require cooking to reduce bitterness and astringency [2-3]. The plant should be considered a minor wild vegetable rather than a primary food source. Edible Uses & Rating: Leaves may be boiled and eaten as greens. Flowers can be eaten fresh. Edibility Rating: 2/5. Sticky geranium is edible but has limited appeal because of strong flavors, tannins, and relatively little traditional food use[2-3]. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Fresh leaves are bitter, dry, and strongly astringent. The sticky surface and strong plant compounds make them unsuitable for most raw uses. Cooking improves the flavor. Boiled leaves become milder, with a green vegetable taste and a distinctive geranium character. Changing the cooking water helps remove excess bitterness. The texture remains slightly chewy but acceptable. Leaf hairs and sticky compounds are generally not problematic after cooking. Flowers are much milder and can provide color to salads. Nutritional Value: Sticky geranium leaves contain plant nutrients and minerals but also contain tannins and other compounds that limit consumption. Its chemistry explains why it has historically been more valued medicinally than nutritionally. Seasonality (Phenology): Young leaves are available in spring and early summer. Flowers appear mainly from late spring into summer, depending on elevation and climate. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): Large quantities are not recommended due to high tannin content and limited food-use history. Care should be taken not to confuse young plants with toxic species such as monkshood or delphiniums before flowering. Harvest & Processing Workflow: Collect young leaves from healthy plants. Remove tough stems and stalks. Cook thoroughly and discard cooking water if bitterness remains. Flowers can be harvested fresh when fully open. Cultivar/Selection Notes: Sticky geranium is primarily used in native landscaping. It is selected for ecological value, drought tolerance, and ornamental flowers rather than edible qualities [2-3]. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Closely resembles other wild geraniums. Sticky glandular hairs, purple flowers, and habitat help distinguish it. The mature fruit structure is a reliable feature of the genus[2-3]. Traditional/Indigenous Use Summary: Sticky geranium and related species were traditionally used mainly as medicinal plants. Their strong astringent properties made them useful for applications involving wounds, irritation, and digestive complaints[2-3]. Food use appears to have been secondary. Flowers - added to salads or used as a garnish[172, 183]. Leaves - raw or cooked. Not choice[172].

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Astringent  Salve  Styptic

Geranium viscosissimum (sticky purple geranium) has a long history of traditional medicinal use by Native American tribes. The entire plant is considered astringent, styptic (capable of stopping bleeding), and a salve. Specific traditional medicinal uses include: Wound Care: The powdered root and leaves were made into a poultice or infused in water to help blood clotting, reduce swelling, and treat cuts, sores, and burns. Colds and Sore Throats: An infusion of the leaves was consumed as a tea or inhaled via steam to treat colds and congestion, and gargled to soothe sore throats. Eye Irritation: A weak, cool tea or infusion made from the leaves and roots was used as a wash for sore, irritated eyes. Gastrointestinal Issues: Native Americans, such as the Blackfeet tribe, used plant infusions to treat gastric upset and diarrhea. The whole plant is astringent, a salve, and styptic [176]. An infusion of the leaves, plus a sweat bath with the leaves, is used to treat colds [257]. It is used as a gargle for the treatment of sore throats [176]. An infusion of the leaves or roots is used as a wash for sore eyes [257]. A poultice of the leaves or roots has been applied to cuts, sores etc[257].

It provides naturalistic color in native gardens. Ecology & Wildlife: Sticky geranium supports native pollinators, contributes to meadow biodiversity, and provides seasonal resources for insects and wildlife. Its ecological value is generally greater than its value as a food plant.

Special Uses