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Shrubs

Pelargonium 'Black Knight' Lea (Dw/d/C)

geranium 'Black Knight' Lea

An Angel Pelargonium, small and compact, bushy, evergreen, tender perennial with small round leaves and pansy-like five-petalled flowers in summer. Flowers are dark purple with a pale pink edge and a white throat. Very floriferous and will require minimal frost free care in winter.

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Sand

Loam

Chalk

Clay

Moisture

Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral, Alkaline

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

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

Botanical details

Family: Geraniaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: 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: Dwarf pelargoniums are compact Zonal types, a little larger than Miniatures, and growing to 20cm, with single or more typically double flowers; well suited to containers

How to grow

Cultivation

Will grow well in a frost-free environment, in well-drained fertile neutral to alkaline soil, preferably in full sun but will tolerate some partial shade, in borders or containers. Irrigate moderately from spring to summer, and sparingly in winter allowing the compost to dry up between waterings. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the growing season and switch to a high potassium fertilizer when flowering starts. Overwinter in containers before the first frost in autumn. See Pelargonium cultivation for further advice.

Propagation

Propagate by seed in late winter and from softwood cuttings from spring to autumn.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
hanging basket
Patio and container plants
Low Maintenance
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Pinch back tips of shoots in spring or early summer and deadhead to promote flowering. If overwintering, cut back hard in autumn or spring.

Pests

May be susceptible to Thrips, vine weevil, Leafhopper, Root mealybug, Whitefly.

Diseases

May be susceptible to Pelargonium rust, Pelargonium viruses, Leafy gall.

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