Geranium phaeum 'Raven'

dusky cranesbill

Eventual height & spread

Geranium phaeum 'Raven'

dusky cranesbill

  • 9cm pot
  • £9.99
  • available to order from summer
  • 3 × 9cm pots
  • £27.00 £29.97
  • available to order from summer
Delivery options
  • Standard £5.95
  • Position: full sun to shade
  • Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
  • Rate of growth: average
  • Flowering period: May to June
  • Hardiness: fully hardy


For the shady, reliably moist corners of the garden, 'Raven' could well be the plant you are looking for. This woodland gem boasts deep, royal purple flowers that stand tall above a lush mound of mid-green foliage, offering an early burst of colour, with its reflexed blooms serving as a vital source of nectar for early-season pollinators. While the flowers may be smaller in size than their flamboyant sun-loving cousins, their abundance creates a captivating visual spectacle, making this clump-forming perennial a prized addition to any garden seeking a touch of dark elegance amidst the shadows.


  • Garden care:
    Geranium phaeum, and its cultivars, prefer reliably moist to damp soils with some shade. When planting, incorporate a scoop of well-rotted compost into the planting hole and water in well. Once established, in midsummer rejuvenate plants that are beginning to look jaded, by removing old flowered stems and leaves. After a couple of seasons, lift and divide large clumps in spring to maintain plant health and vigour.