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Mourning Widow - Geranium phaeum

Geranium phaeum
Dusky Cranesbill, Mourning Widow, Black Widow, Hardy Geranium

4,7/5
15 reviews
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1 reviews
1 reviews
0 reviews

Very mixed feelings after planting it last year near my hostas with the mission to protect them from the greediness of slugs. This year, the young plants are wonderful, already in full flowering while the hostas are just emerging from the ground. So far, no greedy slug in sight.

Monique, 27/04/2022

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This plant carries a 12 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
This perennial geranium is an excellent plant for shady areas of the garden. It blooms in spring, offering its small violet-brown flowers for a month, carried in clusters well above the foliage. They are inclined downwards, with their petals curiously curved. It forms a small semi-evergreen bush, sturdy against the wind. Its tender green foliage, highly lobed and fuzzy, is already delightful. Here is a very reliable plant, with a discreet character but a strong temperament. A treasure for the shade, even dry.
Flower size
2 cm
Height at maturity
60 cm
Spread at maturity
40 cm
Exposure
Partial shade, Shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -29°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November
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Flowering time May to June
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Description

The Perennial Geranium phaeum, also known as Brown Geranium, Dark Geranium, or Livid Geranium, is a sturdy herbaceous perennial and an excellent plant for shaded areas in the garden. It blooms in spring, offering its small violet-brown flowers for a month, carried in loose clusters well above the foliage. They are downward-facing, and their petals are curiously curved. It forms a small semi-evergreen bush, resilient against the wind. Its tender green and fluffy lobed foliage is delightful; here is a very reliable plant, with a discreet character but strong temperament. A treasure for shade, even occasionally dry.

The Perennial Geranium phaeum belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is native to a large area stretching from the Pyrenees to the Balkans. It forms a clump of semi-evergreen foliage, 75 cm (30in) tall when in flower, 30 cm (12in) for the foliage, and 45 cm (0 and 18in) wide. It has a dense and upright habit. Flowering takes place in May-June. The flower itself is relatively discreet, measuring only 2 cm (1in) in diameter, but it is richly colored in purple-brown-violet, sometimes straying towards pale pink or almost black dark brown, with a lighter ring at the center, the crown is gracefully curved stamens around the pistil. The flowers are very numerous, arranged in clusters along thin flower stalks that stand out distinctly from the foliage. The leaves are lobed and deeply cut, tender green. This geranium readily self-seeds in the garden.

 

The Geranium phaeum does not exhibit a flashy and spectacular flowering as its flowers are small and often dark. However, the clumps do not go unnoticed in May. This plant is ideal for the second plan in shaded flower beds. It is interesting for its foliage that fills shaded corners nicely. In the undergrowth, it is a good companion for acid-green euphorbias and pastel-toned lungworts. The slightly lower and lighter-flowered Geranium nodosum will serve the same functions in the shade. Plant it along a North or East-facing path, among ferns and bergenia, in front of hydrangeas, rhododendrons, camellias. It will blend very well with all shade and semi-shade perennials such as fuchsias, hostas, periwinkles, hellebores, epimediums.

Mourning Widow - Geranium phaeum in pictures

Mourning Widow - Geranium phaeum (Flowering) Flowering
Mourning Widow - Geranium phaeum (Foliage) Foliage

Flowering

Flower colour violet
Flowering time May to June
Inflorescence Cyme
Flower size 2 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Semi-evergreen
Foliage colour light green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Plant habit

Height at maturity 60 cm
Spread at maturity 40 cm
Growth rate normal

Botanical data

Genus

Geranium

Species

phaeum

Family

Geraniaceae

Other common names

Dusky Cranesbill, Mourning Widow, Black Widow, Hardy Geranium

Origin

Western Europe

Product reference905811

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Planting and care

The pale livid perennial geranium is a very tolerant plant that accepts ordinary soil, even limestone, but prefers rich and moist soil in which it will grow taller and more beautiful. It is a geranium for shade or semi-shade, but it also tolerates the sun well if the soil remains moist. It tolerates occasional drought in the North. Cut back faded stems after flowering. It is a reliable perennial that requires virtually no maintenance. It can be paired with pale yellow flowering plants such as wood euphorbias, for example. 

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Planting period

Best planting time March, October
Recommended planting time February to April, September to November

Intended location

Suitable for Shaded rockery, Woodland edge, Undergrowth
Type of use Border, Slope
Hardiness Hardy down to -29°C (USDA zone 5) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Partial shade, Shade
Soil pH Any
Soil type Clayey (heavy), Silty-loamy (rich and light), Stony (poor and well-drained)
Soil moisture Moist soil, Free draining, fertile.

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Very good
Overwinter Can be left in the ground
4,7/5
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