Geranium phaeum Golden Spring

The Perennial Geranium phaeum Golden Spring, also known as Brown Geranium, Black Geranium, or Pale Geranium, is a magnificent shade-loving perennial with golden foliage in spring, at the same time as its flowers appear, which are a purplish pink color with a tiny white center. It is a very hardy plant, flowering abundantly with small silky flowers carried in light clusters above the foliage. They are downward-facing, with upturned cups. It forms a small, wind-resistant bush, adaptable to soil and exposure, even in dry shade once well-established.

Perennial Geranium phaeum 'Golden Spring' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is derived from Geranium phaeum, native to the mountains of southern and central Europe, in a wide area extending from the Pyrenees to the Balkans. It forms a clump of semi-evergreen foliage, 45 cm (18in) tall when in bloom, and 30 cm (12in) wide. It has a dense and upright habit. Flowering occurs in May-June, and then, more sporadically, during the summer in not too dry conditions. The flower itself is relatively inconspicuous, measuring only 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, but it is somewhat translucent and beautifully colored in a very dark purplish pink, with silky reflections, with a discreet almost white central area, and the center is crowned with gracefully curved pink stamens around the pistil, resembling butterfly trunks. The flowers are very numerous, arranged in clusters along slender floral stems that stand out distinctly from the foliage. The leaves are divided into 5 large lobes, a very acidic and bright green colour tending towards yellow, becoming greener in summer. G. phaeum self-seeds abundantly in the garden and easily hybridizes with each other.

Geranium phaeum 'Golden Spring' does not exhibit a flashy and spectacular flowering as its flowers are small. However, the clumps do not go unnoticed in May, crowned with purple buds and pink flowers dancing in the light. It is an excellent ground cover to animate a wild garden or brighten up a woodland. It tolerates shade, even dense shade, and withstands drought once established. In woodland settings, it is a good companion for acid-green euphorbias and pastel-toned lungworts. The slightly shorter, lighter-flowered Geranium nodosum will fulfill the same functions in the shade. Plant it along a north or east-facing pathway, among ferns and bergenia, in front of hydrangeas, rhododendrons, and camellias. It will blend very well with all shade and part-shade perennials such as fuchsias, hostas, periwinkles, hellebores, and epimediums.