Geranium pratense 'Purple Ghost'

RHS Plant Profile

meadow cranesbill 'Purple Ghost'

RHS / Joanna Kossak

Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming perennial with hairy stems and deeply-lobed, dark maroon-coloured foliage. The saucer-shaped flowers are white to pale lilac in colour, 4cm across and are around all summer long

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: North–facing or South–facing or East–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): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Geraniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
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 in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by seed, or by division in spring or take basal cuttings in early to mid spring and root with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Coastal
City and courtyard gardens
Wildflower meadow
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Ground cover
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 or snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to downy mildews and Powdery mildews