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Herbaceous Perennial

Geranium phaeum 'Lady in Mourning'

dusky cranesbill 'Lady in Mourning'

A clump-forming perennial to around 80cm high, with an upright habit and lobed and toothed soft green leaves. Dark maroon-coloured flowers are borne, often nodding or horizontal, on reddish stems in late spring and early summer

Synonyms

Geranium 'Mourning Widow'
Geranium phaeum 'Mourning Widow'
see moreGeranium phaeum 'Lady in Black'
Geranium phaeum var. phaeum black-flowered
Geranium phaeum black-flowered

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Clay

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Geraniaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
Genus: Geranium can be annuals, biennials and perennials, herbaceous or evergreen, with rounded, usually palmately lobed or divided leaves, and lax inflorescences of rounded, 5-petalled flowers
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, well-drained soil, though most soils (unless waterlogged) are tolerated. A good option for damp shade

Propagation

Propagate by division or by basal softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Remove flowered stems and old leaves to encourage the production of fresh leaves and flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil, geranium sawfly, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to powdery mildews, downy mildews, rust diseases and virus diseases

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