Pelargonium quercifolium
oak-leaved geranium (syn. P. 'Karrooense')
- Position: Full sun / Light Shade
- Soil: Well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: Medium to Fast
- Flowering period: June to September
- Hardiness: Tender (will need winter protection
- Garden care: Pot up your pelargoniums, but only place them outside in the garden after the risk of frost has passed. Remove the spent flowers as they fade, and keep them well fed using a dilute solution of a high-potash liquid fertiliser (Tomorite is ideal) at regular intervals. If you want to keep them over the winter, move them to a frost free environment and avoid overwatering during the colder months. Pinch back tips of shoots in spring or early summer.
A delicate evergreen species with stems that are initially soft and covered in fine hairs, gradually maturing into a woody sub-shrub over time. The deeply lobed leaves possess a slight stickiness and emit a pleasant balsam fragrance, with each leaf displaying dark zonal markings, adding to its visual appeal. During late spring and summer, clusters of lilac pink flowers with reddish-purple markings grace the plant. Notably, Pelargonium quercifolium is considered one of the hardier varieties within the pelargonium family. It can overwinter at a relatively cool temperature of around 6°C. However, if provided with higher temperatures and abundant sunlight, it will continue to flourish and bloom even during the winter months.