Pelargonium tongaense

RHS Plant Profile
Tonga geranium

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Synonyms

Pelargonium Pondo Land

Bedding Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial
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A deciduous, low-growing, free-flowering, shrubby perennial to around 40cm in height, with pale green stems and pale green, softly hairy, lobed leaves. Bright, scarlet-red flowers appear from April through to September

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1C

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Geraniaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
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
Correct
Plant Range
South Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

May be planted outdoors in beds, baskets and containers after all risk of frost has passed; young plants may need to be hardened off first. Grow in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun, and overwinter indoors. This particular variety may become dormant in late summer and drop its leaves. Reduce watering if this occurs. See pelargonium cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by softwood cuttings in spring or early autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Bedding
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

deadhead regularly

Pests

May be susceptible to vine weevil, glasshouse leafhopper, root mealybugs, aphids, caterpillars, Thrips, fungus gnats and glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds, black leg, Pelargonium rust and pelargonium viruses. Overwatering during period of dormancy may cause root rot