About
Pelargonium triste, the night-scented geranium, is a tuberous perennial with intricately divided, trailing green leaves covered with fine silvery hairs. Tall stems carry clusters of small, night-scented flowers with pale yellow or pale-pink petals marked dark red in late spring and early summer. A fascinating and fragrant species pelargonium for a frost-free, sunny conservatory or greenhouse.
About the genus
Pelargonium are perennials, sub-shrubs and shrubs � sometimes succulent and mostly evergreen � with palmately lobed or pinnately divided leaves and clusters of slightly irregular, five-petalled flowers in shades of red, pink, purple, orange or white. Widely grown as houseplants, patio plants and bedding.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAlkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitTrailing
FoliageSemi evergreen
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants
Native toSouth Africa (Cape)
FragranceFlower
Care notes
CultivationThrives in sandy, well-drained soils in a sunny or lightly shaded spot. Grow under glass, or in containers and overwinter indoors. Plants may be summer dormant in warmer regions; keep almost dry when not in growth to prevent rotting
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by seed, by softwood cuttings, or by division of tubers when plants are dormant
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to root mealybugs, thrips, fungus gnats and glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free, though prone to rot in poor drainage