sweetheart geranium
A tender sub-shrub, with semi-succulent, spiny stems, and lobed mid-green leaves with hairy undersides. Plants are often summer dormant, producing clusters of small white, pink or purple flowers, usually marked with dark red blotches on the petals, in autumn and sometimes again in spring
0.5-1 metres
0.5-1 metres
| Season | Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Grow in well-drained, sandy loam in a sunny spot. Plants are drought tolerant once established, keep almost dry during the dormant period. May tolerate temperatures down to -3°C for short periods, but will need protection from heavy frosts
Propagate by seed sown in spring, or by softwood cuttings in early autumn. Allow cuttings to dry for 2-3 days before inserting into medium
No pruning required
May be susceptible to vine weevil, glasshouse leafhopper, root mealybugs, aphids, caterpillars, thrips, fungus gnats and glasshouse whitefly
May be susceptible to grey moulds, black leg, pelargonium rust and pelargonium viruses