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Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as geraniums (in the United States also storksbills). Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called cranesbills or hardy geraniums. Both genera belong to the family Geraniaceae. Pelargonium species are evergreen perennials indigenous to Southern Africa, and are drought and heat tolerant, but can tolerate only minor frosts. They are extremely popular garden plants, grown as bedding plants in temperate regions.
Pelargonium papilionaceum is an erect strongly or unpleasantly scented shrub, reaching a height of 2 m. The base of the main stem is woody whereas the side branches are herbaceous and covered with long soft hairs. The cordate (heart-shaped) leaves are usually about 70 mm long and 100 mm wide. The leaf margins are finely toothed, minutely serrated (saw-toothed) or almost entire. The branched peduncles form many umbel-like heads with 5–12 flowers each. The striking light pink to carmine flowers with two large upper reflexed petals and three very narrow lower ones, are borne on long and villous pedicels. A dark purple blotch on the upper petals contrasts well with an adjacent white blotch. The fruit, a so-called schizocarp, splits into 5 separate parts or mericarps, with the basal part about 6 mm long and a tail of about 35 mm long. Pelargonium papilionaceum flowers from August to January.
USDA Zone - 9
Season to Sow - Autumn
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