# Dusky Crane's-bill (*Geranium phaeum*) The Dusky Crane's-bill is a pretty flower with dark purple petals. It grows in gardens and woodlands, bringing beauty to nature with its lovely blooms. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Woodlands ![Dusky Crane's-bill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Geranium_phaeum_Bodziszek_%C5%BCa%C5%82obny_03.jpg&width=800) Photo: Agnieszka Kwiecień ( Nova ), CC BY 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geranium_phaeum_Bodziszek_%C5%BCa%C5%82obny_03.jpg) ## Appearance The Dusky Crane's-bill has unique, dark, reddish-purple flowers that appear almost black in shade, hanging gracefully like tiny bells. Its deeply lobed, often mottled green leaves add to its striking appearance, distinguishing it from other geraniums. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Geraniales - **Family:** Geraniaceae - **Genus:** Geranium ## Interesting facts - It's also called 'Mourning Widow' due to its somber flower color and drooping petals! - Some varieties have leaves with cool dark blotches, like a secret tattoo! - The common name 'crane's-bill' comes from its seed pods, which look exactly like a crane's long beak! - This plant is super tough and can even grow in rocky areas or old walls! ## Special abilities - **Shade Seeker:** Dusky Crane's-bill can thrive in shady spots, a superpower that lets it grow where many other flowers can't find enough sunlight. - **Beacon Bloom:** Its dark, nodding flowers act like a special beacon, attracting specific cool-loving insects that help it spread its seeds. - **Seed Slinger:** The plant has a clever seed pod that, when ripe, can fling its seeds far away to find new places to grow. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 30-80 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Common carder bee (*Bombus pascuorum*) — Feeds on its nectar and pollen. - **Pollinates:** Drone Fly (*Eristalis tenax*) — Attracted to its dark flowers and nectar. - **Eaten by:** Grey field slug (*Deroceras reticulatum*) — Slugs may nibble on its leaves and stems. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Dusky Crane's-bill? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Dusky Crane's-bill? 30-80 cm ### How wide does Dusky Crane's-bill spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Dusky Crane's-bill? 2-3 cm ### When does Dusky Crane's-bill bloom? Late spring to mid-summer ### Is Dusky Crane's-bill edible? No ### Is Dusky Crane's-bill toxic? None ### What is Dusky Crane's-bill's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Belltown Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/belltown-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Barockgarten (Schleswig)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/baroque-garden-schleswig) — Schleswig-Holstein, DE · Park ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Dusky Crane's-bill: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dusky-cranes-bill)