Geranium phaeum
Moody purple-black shade lover
Grown by Mike's perennial specialists
UK
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Plant diary
- Flower
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Geranium phaeum
- Bring incredible, moody drama to the shady corners of your garden with the spectacular, nodding, deep purple-black flowers of the 'Mourning Widow'.
- Geranium phaeum is an absolute lifesaver for tricky, dry shade, thriving happily under trees and shrubs where other plants struggle to survive.
- This geranium features striking, softly lobed green leaves often marked with distinct, dark purple blotches, providing phenomenal foliage interest.
- It blooms profusely in late spring and early summer, offering an invaluable, nectar-rich resource for early-season bees and woodland pollinators.
- Highly resilient and fully hardy, it will quickly naturalize to form a brilliant, weed-suppressing groundcover that requires absolutely zero maintenance.
What to expect
Supplied as
Eventual height
Eventual spread
Flower colour
Habit
Hardiness
Will this grow in my garden?
Can I grow this in a pot?
Yes, Geranium phaeum grows well in pots with regular watering during dry spells.
How big does it get?
Geranium phaeum typically reaches a mature height of 60 cm and a spread of 45 cm.
How much sunlight does this need?
Geranium phaeum thrives in partial shade to full sun.
What kind of soil does this plant prefer?
Geranium phaeum prefers moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil.
How much watering does this plant need?
Geranium phaeum needs about 2.5 centimetres of water per week, keeping the soil evenly moist.
Will this plant need pruning?
Geranium phaeum does not need pruning, but cutting it back hard after the first flush of flowers will encourage fresh foliage and a second bloom.
How hardy is this plant?
Geranium phaeum is fully hardy (H7), enduring temperatures below -20°C. It thrives uniformly across all regions of the UK without the need for winter protection.
The wider garden
UK
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