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Plant Guide

Brunswick

422 Bath Road
Brunswick, ME 04011
1-800-339-8111
207-442-8111

Falmouth

89 Foreside Road
Falmouth, ME 04105
1-800-244-3860
207-781-3860

Cumberland

201 Gray Rd (Route 100)
Cumberland, ME 04021
1-800-348-8498
207-829-5619

perennial

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill

Geranium pratense 'Midnight Ghost'

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Midnight Ghost Cranesbill (Geranium pratense 'Midnight Ghost') at Skillins Greenhouse

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill flowers

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  18 inches

Spacing:  14 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  3b

Other Names:  Meadow Cranesbill

Description:

A mounding plant producing large, bright white blooms, contrasting fine textured, purple foliage that darkens to near-black; deadhead spent flowers for reblooming later in the season; attractive even when not in bloom

Ornamental Features

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill has masses of beautiful white star-shaped flowers at the ends of the stems from late spring to mid summer, which emerge from distinctive dark red flower buds, and which are most effective when planted in groupings. Its attractive deeply cut lobed palmate leaves emerge grayish green in spring, turning deep purple in color with hints of black throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill is an herbaceous perennial with a mounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill will grow to be about 15 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 14 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Midnight Ghost Cranesbill is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Rock  Edging  Garden  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture 
Ornamental Features