A splendid new member of the G. phaeum family, 'Lavender Pinwheel' regales with petals that resemble watercolor paintings, their outer edges a bold lavender and their interiors the softest possible mauve. Very freely borne on ultra-vigorous plants, these flowers offer many weeks of breathtaking color from late spring to midsummer, then return for late-season encores. And as if this color weren't enough to satisfy, the semi-evergreen foliage #8212; large, lobed, and fuzzy — sports bright red and purple hues when the first frosts arrive.
Measuring 1½ to 2 inches across, these flowers tower majestically above the foliage, which even in the early season boasts a few bronze and violet marks. G. phaeum is an upright and very dense Geranium, earning its common name of Mourning Widow with its dark red to nearly black blooms. 'Lavender Pinwheel' lightens up on the mourning aspect, but still achieves an imposing, regal stance. Expect the plant to reach 20 to 28 inches in bloom, and to spread 18 to 24 inches wide. Unlike some of the airier, more layered Geranium species, you will find it determined to occupy its space in the garden rather than drifting between the stems and leaves of its neighbors. Cut back the blooms after its first heavy flush, and you may find yourself rewarded with shy encores for several more months.
Robust and healthy in enriched, consistently moist, well-drained soil, this rhizomatous perennial quickly forms a dense mound in any light from partial shade to full sun. In hot climates, a moist, partly shaded location is recommended. In particularly warm summers you may notice it decline after flowering; when this occurs, remove all the flowering stems and, if necessary, shear back the foliage to give it less to attend to. It will bounce back. It takes short bouts of extreme heat or damp in stride, holds no allure for hungry deer, and brings butterflies into the garden with its lovely flowers. Altogether a delightful plant, and one that will improve the color and texture of the border. Zones 4-8.
