Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple Pink | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H1CBotanical details
- Family
- Geraniaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Habit
- Bushy
- 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
- Name status
Accepted
- Horticultural Group
- Scented-leaved pelargoniums are evergreen shrubs or perennials with strongly aromatic foliage and small, single flowers in shades of pink, purple or white
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in neutral or alkaline, well-drained, moderately fertile soil in full sun. Lift outdoor plants and keep in frost-free, well- lit conditions over winter. See pelargonium cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring, late summer and autumn
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Patio and container plants
Pruning
Deadhead regularly. Cut back if re-potting to over-winter indoors
Pests
Generally pest-free but may be susceptible to the usual glasshouse pests, especially such as aphids in spring
Diseases
Generally disease-free, but may be susceptible to pelargonium rust and pelargonium viruses
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.