JOIN THE IVY LEAGUE
Trailing ivy-leaf pelargoniums will dazzle all summer long
N ext time you see hanging baskets, check how many contain trailing ivy-leaf pelargoniums. In our neighbourhood, most do, with petunias coming a close second. these pelargoniums — often wrongly called ‘geraniums’ — come in amazing variety. they make outstanding container plants, not just because they trail prettily, but also because they flower so readily and for so long. the wild species, Pelargonium
peltatum, is native to South Africa and was introduced to europe in the 1700s. Its semisucculent leaves are ivy-shaped and, throughout summer, clusters of pale lilac-mauve flowers arrive in profusion.
I’ve seen this plant growing wild in the Cape where summers are hot and dry. But it thrives in even the dampest and coolest of British summers, flowering from May to November.
After centuries of breeding, there are many varieties. Colours run from crimson through pinks, purples and pale mauve to white. Size and vigour vary, too, from compact Mini-cascade varieties to unstoppable scarlet Balcon Royale.
You can find more sought-after varieties at specialist growers, such as Fibrex (fibrex.co.uk) or Woottens of Wenhaston (woottensplants.com).
BALCONY BEAUTIES
FoR decades europe’s most popular ivy-leaf was Balcon Royale. Back in the day, every chalet in the Alps was bedecked with it.
over time, the Balcons were diversified into a range of colourful beauties. thompson & Morgan offers a mix of these, calling them GeRainbow. Leaf is almost as important as flower with trailing plants. that’s why variegated varieties are valued. L’elegante has the pale lilac flower of the wild ivy-leaf, but its leaves are edged silver-white.
Among larger flowered types there are several doubles. these are impressive, but single flowers drop their petals more easily, making dead-heading unnecessary. old flowers mummify with double varieties, creating dead brown blobs. Nonetheless, some doubles are magnificent. try smouldering red Harvard; gorgeous pale mauve Jackie, and white, looser-petalled, Joan of Arc.
there are also startling colour combinations: Crocodile contrasts gold-netted foliage with cerise flowers. the petals of Mexicana are streaked in shocking pink and white.
EASY TO GROW
IvY-LeAF pelargoniums are easy to grow. they thrive in any free-draining compost, preferably in good light. Keep them well watered and feed regularly in the growing season. Almost all pelargoniums are easy to propagate from cuttings.
Not all trailing varieties are ivy-leaved. I grow other pelargoniums which sprawl superbly.
P. tomentosum has big, furry, peppermint-scented leaves and sprays of little white flowers.
Zonal type the Boar has darkcentred leaves and apricotorange blooms. It’s brilliant for filling a large container. Clorinda, an even larger sprawler, has big flower clusters in hot pink. the aristocrat, though, is
P. acetosum. Grey-green leaves make a gentle contrast with salmon flowers. It looks fabulous with trailing blue lobelias.