Geranium phaeum 'Calligrapher'

RHS Plant Profile

dusky cranesbill 'Calligrapher'

Herbaceous Perennial

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A clump-forming herbaceous perennial, 70cm high, with deciduous, lobed, green leaves with dark brown markings, and bluish-purple flowers with a ring of darker violet veins around lilac centres, from mid-spring to early summer

Position

Full shade, Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.5-1 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

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

Position

Full shade Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–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 sun or shade in moist but well-drained soil; good in damp shade

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, or by basal softwood cuttings taken in spring and rooted with bottom heat

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Flower borders and beds
Ground cover
Banks and slopes
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required, but cutting back flowered stems and old leaves may encourage the growth of fresh leaves and flowers

Pests

May be susceptible to capsid bug, geranium sawfly, vine weevil, slugs and snails but generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to a rust, a downy mildew, leafy gall, and virus diseases; may also be susceptible to powdery mildews in dry conditions but generally disease-free