About
Clusters of 3-10 star-shaped white flowers, 1.5cm across, the two upper petals marked with red veins, appear from spring to summer. A low-growing evergreen herbaceous perennial, up to 25cm tall, with a short main stem and trailing flowering stems. Rounded, apple-scented, light green leaves, 4-5cm across, are held on 5cm long stalks.
About the genus
Pelargonium can be perennials, sub-shrubs or shrubs, sometimes succulent and mostly evergreen, with palmately lobed or pinnately divided leaves and clusters of slightly irregular, 5-petalled flowers
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeHouseplants
HabitTrailing
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.5-1 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants, City and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
Native toSouthern Africa
FragranceFoliage
Care notes
CultivationGrow outside in summer in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun; in containers, indoors or out, grow in well-drained, peat-free compost, in full light but shaded from scorching midday sun. Provide good ventilation, and water moderately during the growing season from spring to summer, and only sparingly in winter. For more details see pelargonium cultivation
PruningDeadhead to encourage flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed, sown in late winter and grown on in a protected environment such as a heated greenhouse, or by softwood cuttings from spring to autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to vine weevil larvae, leafhopper, root mealybugs, and whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to Pelargonium viruses, grey moulds, Pelargonium rust, and leafy gall