Geranium phaeum

Hardy geranium with upright habit and sultry purple-black flowers from late spring

<em>Geranium phaeum</em>

Geranium phaeum, 2 litre container

Established plants in two-litre containers

Description

Geranium phaeum, the Dusky Cranesbill, is a British native that is found growing in woodlands and shaded mountainsides across western and northern Europe. It shares a number of features with more well-known garden geraniums – most obviously, perhaps, the lobed, distinctive leaves. Like most geraniums, it’s also a reliable, hardy plant that is adaptable to a range of conditions. What distinguishes it, however, is the more upright habit and the way the flowers emerge from stems held high above the foliage. When the flowers do open they introduce the most exquisite sultry purple-black coloration to the garden. They work particularly well in semi-shaded woodland schemes, where the dark flowers mingle excellently with the paler flowers found in most woodland plants.

These established, garden-ready plants have been grown in peat-free compost at our nursery in Cornwall and are supplied in two-litre containers. They will grow to an ultimate height of about 60cm (24 inches) with a similar spread.

Growing Advice

Like most hardy geraniums, this is a very low maintenance plant. It’s happy in a range of soils and needs nothing but a tidy up in spring, when you can cut all the old foliage back to the base to make way for the fresh foliage coming through. You can also do that once there are a few less flowers towards the end of summer to tidy it all up. It does best in partially shaded locations, such as under deciduous trees, where spring light filters through to help the plant get going in spring but the tree canopy protects it from the harshest days of mid-summer sun. It will also do well in more shady spots and in full sun – though if grown in the latter it will suffer if the soil it is grown in is allowed to completely dry out.

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£9.75

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