Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 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 | Red | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Red | Green | ||
| Autumn | Red | Green | ||
| Winter | Green |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
ShelteredDrought resistance
Yes Hardiness
H1CBotanical 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
Unresolved
- Horticultural Group
- Zonal pelargoniums are bushy evergreen perennials with fleshy stems, rounded, palmately lobed leaves often zoned with maroon, and single or double flowers in shades of purple, red, pink, orange and white, from early to late summer
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in containers of peat-free multipurpose compost in a greenhouse or conservatory, or on a well-lit windowsill. May stand outside after all risk of frost has passed, or use as bedding plants in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil in full sun, then overwinter indoors as small plants grown from late-summer cuttings. See Pelargonium cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by softwood cuttings, from spring to late summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Houseplants
- Mediterranean climate plants
- Patio and container plants
- Bedding
- Flower borders and beds
Pruning
Pinch out shoot tips in spring and early summer to encourage bushiness. Large plants overwintered indoors can be cut back hard in late autumn or early spring
Pests
May be susceptible to vine weevil larvae (in pots), leafhopper, root mealybug and whitefly
Diseases
May be susceptible to grey moulds, a rust, viruses and leafy gall
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.