Dusky Cranesbill - 5 pieces

CHF 23.90

Dusky Cranesbill - 5 pieces

Name: Dusky Cranesbill - 5 pieces
Brand: Geranium
Price: 23.90 CHF
Availability: OutOfStock

Geranium phaeum

CHF 23.90

Dark maroon to almost black flowers
Reflexed petals, visible stamens
Flowers in May and June
Foliage often spotted purple-brown
Thrives in shade, even dry, 50–70 cm tall

Geranium phaeum is a native woodland perennial with small, dark maroon to black-violet flowers. In May and June they nod on slender stems above the often brown-spotted foliage. It grows reliably in shade, even dry shade beneath trees.

About this variety

Geranium phaeum is also known as the dusky cranesbill or mourning widow because of its dark flowers. The flowers are small, but the colour is special: deep maroon to black-violet. The petals are reflexed and the stamens protrude. The foliage often carries dark spots.

At 50–70 cm tall, it is a reliable filler for shady areas beneath trees, along hedges and at woodland edges. It also copes with dry shade, where many other plants fail. White flowers of sweet woodruff or Epimedium and pale hostas bring light into the dark planting. Planted in groups, it forms a continuous flowering carpet after two years. With its calm habit, it links eye-catching perennials and makes the border look harmonious.

Bees and bumblebees like to visit the flowers. The flowering season lasts about a month, and the effect is understated and natural. It self-seeds easily without becoming a nuisance and is very long-lived in a natural garden. The flowers open one after another, so new splashes of colour keep appearing for weeks. It can also be grown in a large container, as long as the soil does not dry out.

Planting

Plant in spring, from March to May, or in autumn, in September and October. Dig a planting hole twice the size of the root ball and set the plant so that the root collar sits just below the soil surface. Keep a spacing of 35–50 cm. Partial shade to shade is ideal. Water in thoroughly.

Care

Cut the plant back close to the ground after the first flush of flowers; it will then produce fresh growth and often flower a second time. Water during long dry spells and add a layer of compost in spring. Remove dead foliage in late winter. Older plants can be divided in autumn.

Specifications

Botanical name: Geranium phaeum
Genus: Hardy geranium
Class: Various
Supplied as: Bare roots
Flower colour: Purple
Flower size: 2 cm
Flowering time: May, June
Flowering season: Late spring, Early summer
Foliage colour: Light green
Height: 60 cm
Spread: 60 cm
Habit: Bushy
Position: Shade, Sun, Partial shade
Suitable for: Bed, Bed edge and border, Pot and container, Rock garden, Wildlife garden and meadow, Woodland edge, Under trees and shrubs
Soil type: Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Drainage: Well-drained
Soil moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Neutral
Soil note: Suitable for many Swiss garden soils. A loose structure and good drainage matter more than a particular soil type.
Water needs: Medium
Planting time: March, April, May, September, October
Planting depth: Just cover the root collar
Spacing: 35–50 cm
Number per m²: 4
Hardiness in Switzerland: Hardy in Switzerland
Hardiness by location: Hardy, also at higher altitudes
Hardiness zone (USDA): 4–8
Overwintering note: Generally hardy in garden soil in Switzerland. At high, windy sites and in containers, plan extra winter protection and avoid winter wet.
For containers: Only partly suitable for containers
Container note: Only recommended in a sufficiently large, stable, well-drained container.
Cut flower: Partly suitable as a cut flower
Naturalising: Not suitable
Naturalising note: Persists for several years in a suitable spot, but does not normally spread over larger areas on its own.
For bees and butterflies: Pollinator-friendly
RHS hardiness: H7