OK
In progress indicator
< Back to previous page

Geranium phaeum (Dusky cranesbill)

Beginner
skill rating
1 hour care
per year
0.8m
Max height
0.45m
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity

Plant details

Botanical name

Geranium phaeum

Other names

Mourning widow, Dusky cranesbill

Genus

Geranium Geranium

Species

G. phaeum - G. phaeum is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with lobed, light green basal leaves that can be spotted with brown. In late spring to early summer they have slender, branched stems bearing burgundy-black flowers with cream centres.


Geranium phaeum is: Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

Flower

Black, Dark-red, Cream in Spring; Dark-red, Cream, Black in Summer

Foliage

Light green in Spring; Light green in Summer; Light green in Autumn

How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Capsid bug , Sawflies , Vine weevil Capsid bug , Sawflies , Vine weevil

Downy mildew , Powdery mildew Downy mildew , Powdery mildew

General care

Pruning

After flowering, rejuvenate plants by removing old stems and leaves.

Propagation methods

Basal cuttings, Division

Sign up for your FREE ACCOUNT today or login to receive detailed monthly care instructions

Where to grow

Geranium phaeum (Dusky cranesbill) will reach a height of 0.8m and a spread of 0.45m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Ground Cover, Underplanting, Woodland

Cultivation

Best planted in most moderately fertile soil (apart from waterlogged) in either full sun or partial shade. Shade is tolerated.

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy, Clay, Chalky (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Well-drained, Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral, Alkaline, Acid

Light

Full Shade, Full Sun, Partial Shade

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered, Exposed

Hardiness

Hardy (H4)

Companion plants

We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.

Botanical name

Geranium phaeum

Other names

Mourning widow, Dusky cranesbill

Genus

Geranium Geranium

Species

G. phaeum - G. phaeum is a clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with lobed, light green basal leaves that can be spotted with brown. In late spring to early summer they have slender, branched stems bearing burgundy-black flowers with cream centres.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Clump-forming, Erect flower stem

Colour

Flower

Black, Dark-red, Cream in Spring; Dark-red, Cream, Black in Summer

Foliage

Light green in Spring; Light green in Summer; Light green in Autumn

How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Capsid bug , Sawflies , Vine weevil

Specific diseases

Downy mildew , Powdery mildew

General care

Pruning

After flowering, rejuvenate plants by removing old stems and leaves.

Propagation methods

Basal cuttings, Division

Monthly care advice

Where to grow

Geranium phaeum (Dusky cranesbill) will reach a height of 0.8m and a spread of 0.45m after 2-5 years.

Suggested uses

Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Ground Cover, Underplanting, Woodland

Cultivation

Best planted in most moderately fertile soil (apart from waterlogged) in either full sun or partial shade. Shade is tolerated.

Soil type

Sandy, Loamy, Clay, Chalky (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Well-drained, Moist but well-drained

Soil pH

Neutral, Alkaline, Acid

Light

Full Shade, Full Sun, Partial Shade

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Sheltered, Exposed

Hardiness

Hardy (H4)

In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.

In progress indicator
Full size image
In progress indicator
Caption

Caption

Cancel and close this form

Geranium phaeum

Geranium phaeum (Dusky cranesbill)

Geranium phaeum

Upload your own photo
In progress indicator
This plant likes... Garden match
Soil types: Sandy, Loamy, Clay, Chalky (will tolerate most soil types) Tell us...
Soil drainage: Well-drained, Moist but well-drained Tell us...
Soil pH: Neutral, Alkaline, Acid Tell us...
Light: Full Shade, Full Sun, Partial Shade Tell us...
Aspect: North, South, East, West Tell us...
Exposure: Sheltered, Exposed Tell us...
Hardiness: Hardy (H4) Tell us...

GARDENS WITH THIS PLANT

My garden
My garden
Palustris Catz
My garden
My garden
Vanessa
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson
Paul Jackson
Front garden
Front garden
Sangeeta
My garden
My garden
Inez Hardie
Gorsty Meadow
Gorsty Meadow
Jan Moreau
Hampton Court Flower Show July 2010
My Garden
My Garden
Katherine Simmonds
March South
March South
Barry Tabor
My Garden
My Garden
Patricia Burton
My Garden
My Garden
elizabeth bradbury
My Back garden
My Back garden
Kathryn Robertson
Tyn-y-Maes
Tyn-y-Maes
Shelagh McIntosh
One Garden is Clearly Enough
Hampton-in-GArden
Hampton-in-GArden
Nick Adcock
Railway Cottage
Railway Cottage
Sheron Deards
Sheron's Old Garden
Sheron's Old Garden
Sheron Deards
My Garden
My Garden
Lucinda

ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT

Shenley Garden

Designed by Gillie Leaf Garden Design. A north-west facing garden with an awkward shape and slope to the rear boundary on a new development. The developers left the garden laid to lawn. The strong… read more

Passing on a Cambridge garden

Tim Ewbank recently sold his Cambridgeshire home and garden. He decided at the same time to pass along his Shoot account to the new home owner so they could benefit from the information about their… read more

Top 10 Plants for Shady Dry Soil

A shady and dry area of a garden is the worst position in the world for plants. The fact that it's shady means that most of the flowering plants you can use will flower in the first half of the… read more

God’s Own Country - A Garden for Yorkshire

A piece of medieval history will be taken to RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2016 after Welcome to Yorkshire unveiled the design for its biggest garden to date. read more

The M&G Retreat Garden

M&G has commissioned award-winning landscape designer Jo Thompson to create a sylvan themed garden retreat. read more

View all 51 articles


Report content or feedback to Shoot

To add ? to your lists,
login to your account or subscribe.

Find out more about plant lists here

or Login


To check if this plant is suitable for your garden first login to your account or subscribe.

or Login

In progress indicator
Note

Note

You are adding a note to: ?

Cancel

Our awards:
Follow us

Get expert info and easy to follow monthly care reminders for the plants in your garden by signing up for a free Shoot account.