Dusky cranesbill

Sun

Partial shade is ideal; tolerates full shade with fewer flowers, or full sun where the soil stays moist.

Water

Water regularly during establishment. Established plants tolerate some dry shade, but prolonged drought can make the foliage deteriorate.

Soil

Moist but well-drained soil enriched with organic matter; tolerates clay, loam and a wide range of soil pH.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Spread

1-1.5 ft (0.3-0.45 m)

Flowers

Late spring to early summer; usually deep maroon-purple, with white, pink and paler purple forms available.

Foliage

Rounded, deeply lobed green leaves; some forms have conspicuous brown-purple blotches.

Growth

Moderate; forms leafy clumps and can spread farther by self-seeding.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water during the first growing season whenever the soil begins to dry.
• In later years, water during prolonged drought, especially beneath thirsty trees.
• Apply a thin layer of compost or leaf mould in spring, keeping it clear of the crown.
• Avoid heavy feeding, which encourages floppy growth.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring or early autumn.
• Remove unwanted seedlings while small; deadhead if you want to limit their numbers.

Pruning. Cut spent flowering stems to the base before seed ripens if self-seeding is unwanted. After flowering, shear tired foliage back and water to encourage fresh leaves; remove remaining dead growth in late winter.

Late winter

Remove dead stems and leaves before new growth develops.

Spring

Plant or divide clumps and apply compost or leaf mould.

Late spring

Check moisture around newly planted clumps and those growing beneath trees.

Early summer

Remove spent flower stems before seed ripens, or leave a few for naturalising.

Summer

Cut back shabby foliage after flowering and water if the soil is dry.

Early autumn

Move seedlings or divide established clumps while the soil is still warm and moist.

• Plant in loose groups beneath deciduous trees, where the flowers rise above a leafy ground layer.
• Combine with ferns and hostas in shaded borders for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Thread through cottage borders with foxgloves and columbines for an informal late-spring display.
• Use pale-flowered forms to brighten shady paths, or dark-flowered forms against light green foliage.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Cottage garden, English country, Wildlife garden, Low-maintenance and Arts and Crafts.

Plant it with: Hostas, Lady ferns, Foxgloves, Columbines, Hellebores and Siberian bugloss.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other visiting insects. Dense foliage offers shelter for small garden invertebrates.

• Powdery mildew can coat leaves in dry, crowded conditions: improve airflow, water the soil during drought and remove badly affected foliage.
• Slugs and snails may damage young shoots: inspect at dusk, hand-pick and protect emerging growth where necessary.
• Leaves may brown or collapse in prolonged drought: water deeply and cut away damaged foliage.
• Excess seedlings can crowd nearby plants: remove flower stems before seed ripens and weed out seedlings promptly.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses; no part is recognised as a significant poisoning hazard. It is not a food plant, and eating substantial quantities may still cause digestive upset. Do not confuse hardy Geranium species with Pelargonium, which has different toxicity risks.

• Wood cranesbill (Geranium sylvaticum)

  Usually has more open, outward- or upward-facing violet-purple flowers; dusky cranesbill typically has nodding, dark maroon flowers with petals swept back.

• Knotted cranesbill (Geranium nodosum)

  Has glossy, usually three- to five-lobed leaves and open lilac-pink flowers with darker veins, rather than the usually dark, nodding flowers of dusky cranesbill.

Geranium comes from the Greek for crane, referring to the beak-like seed capsule, while phaeum means dusky or dark, describing the flowers.

Propagation. Divide clumps in spring or early autumn. Sow fresh ripe seed in pots outdoors; germination can be irregular and may follow a cold period. Seedlings can differ from the parent, so divide named cultivars to preserve their characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Geranium phaeum

Native range

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Northwest European R, Poland and Romania.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7. Average height 45 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.