Pelargonium 'Copthorne' (U/Sc)

RHS Plant Profile
geranium 'Copthorne'
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A bushy plant to 50cm in height, with boldly lobed, spicily-scented leaves and light mauve flowers with the upper petals marked with purple

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, 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 Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1C

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

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
Unique pelargoniums are shrubby perennials with often pungently scented, rounded, lobed or more deeply cut foliage and clusters of single, funnel-shaped white, pink, red, orange or purple flowers to 3cm across

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under glass, grow in a peat-free potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun with good ventilation. When in growth water moderately and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser in spring and early summer. A high potash fertiliser should be used when in flower. Water sparingly in winter. Can be grown outside in frost-free areas in a fertile soil. See Pelargonium cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Take softwood cuttings in summer and overwinter plants in frost free conditions or take softwood cuttings in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead regularly

Pests

Susceptible to vine weevil, caterpillars and thrips

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds when grown under glass