About
A compact, bushy herbaceous perennial with lax trailing stems to 40cm tall; rounded, purple-centred leaves and lax clusters of single, salmon-pink flowers in spring and summer.
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, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing, East-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitBushy
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Cottage and informal garden, Hanging basket
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass, grow in a well- drained, peat-free compost in full light but with protection from hot sun. Water moderately when the plant is in active growth and feed with a balanced fertiliser in spring, switching to a high potash fertiliser from early summer until autumn. Outside, grow in a neutral to alkaline soil in full sun. Lift in the autumn and keep plants dry, in bright light and frost free conditions until the spring. See Pelargonium cultivation for further advice.
PruningCut back top growth by up to two thirds and repot overwintering plants as they are resuming new growth in the late winter/early spring
PropagationTake softwood cuttings in spring, late summer or early autumn
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to vine weevils, leaf hoppers, aphids, root mealybugs, caterpillars, western flower thrips, sciarid flies
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to grey mould and black leg