Species pelargoniums

Pelargonium sidoides Sprays of dark-purple, almost black, flowers contrast with the silvery grey, heart-shaped leaves. Used in traditional medicine in South Africa and still found in some cold remedies. 25cm. AGM. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. capitatum Soft, downy foliage that is strongly rosescented, and tight clusters of mauve flowers. One of the first pelargoniums introduced into Europe. Now grown commercially for its scented oils. 40cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. caffrum The fringed petals give the flower a slightly zany look. Leaves are so narrow that they seem skeletal. It was very popular when introduced in the 1860s but is now seldom grown. 40cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. alpinum The form most commonly found in cultivation has a chocolate-coloured line that follows the shape of the leaf. It can become straggly with age so should be cut back regularly. 30cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11.

P. lobatum Large, velvety leaves appear from a peculiarlooking, woody tuber followed by umbels of cream-and-brown flowers that are sweetly scented at night. Parent of some attractive hybrids. 20cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. ionidiflorum A neat and compact dome of small, serrated leaves (2cm long) that is smothered with sprays of pink flowers. Long-flowering – mine starts in May and carries on until the end of September. 35cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. schizopetalum A large, gnarled tuber – more mineral than vegetable – with short stems of wispy flowers, scented at night. Lower petals are usually flushed purple and upper ones a yellowishgreen. 20cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. reniforme Kidney-shaped, greyish-green leaves with a velvety texture and flowers that are usually a startling shade of pink. The plant’s size and habit is very similar to P. sidoides. 25cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. gibbosum A sprawling plant – stems up to a metre long – with unusual swellings at the leaf joints and succulent-like, blue-grey foliage. Flowers are a yellowish-green colour and strongly scented at night. 50cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11. P. betulinum An upright plant with woody stems that has fresh-green, rounded foliage and large pink flowers. The flowers resemble those of modern regal hybrids and it may be an ancestor. 30cm. RHS H1C, USDA 10b-11.