Pelargonium griseum

Pelargonium griseum is a tall spreading shrub-let which has unique flowers compared to other pelargonium species. The flower contains four petals in which the upper petals roll lengthways forming a tube with two lower smaller petals. The flowers are light pink with darker pink markings and long stamens. The leaves are small and are multi-divided greyish green. P. griseum is a rare pelargonium in gardens and is native to the Cape Province  which grows on hill sides and slopes, similar to P. dolomiticum & P. tragacathoides.

Flower buds

Pelargonium visscossimum and pelargonium aridum are now coming up to flower. P. aridum is a semi succulent tuft plant with yellow flowers and P. viscossimum is an upright branching shrub with aromatic palmate shallow lobed leaves.

Pelargonium antidysentericum

Pelargonium antidysentericum is a upright or trailing plant that can grow into a large shrub and becomes more woody with age. This pelargonium has pale purple to mid purple flowers with pinkish purple markings, each flowering stalk contains 2-5 flowers. It is aromatic with an underground tuber which can grow to 14 cm across, the leaves are kidney shaped & 5 lobed but can vary, some types are zoned and are greyish green in colour while others are light green without being zoned, there are said to be three subspecies of this plant.

The name “antidysentericum” is derived from the pharmacological word antidysenteric meaning medicine for dysentery, the Khoikhoi (hottentots) aboriginal people of South Africa used this plant to treat dysentery and also for anemia. It was given the name by Vincenz Franz Kosteletzky a bohemian doctor and botanist who studied medicinal plants (1801-1887).

Pelargonium antidysentericum grows in South Africa in the Northern Cape where it grows on hillsides in rocky areas.

 

Spring pictures

We have had a large amount of rain this winter, but the last few days it has been like spring with sunny days and warmer weather. A few of the pelargoniums are now flowering in the garden with the many wild flowers and trees in blossom

Tropical colourful Love bird scarf

The new tropical love bird scarf is now available on etsy http://www.etsy.com/listing/687126895/tropical-love-african-sausage-tree

It is a elegant long and thin scarf 150 cm x 16.5  with a pinky orange background and sliver gutta outline and green red blue love birds and a African sausage tree with leaves, fruit, flowers branches and buds.

Pelargonium ranunculophyllum

Pelargonium ranunculophyllum is a small shrub with elegant white flowers and red blotches on the upper & lower petals but this may vary. The blueish green leaves are circular to kidney shaped , sharp toothed with a dark reddish purple zone in the centre, the foliage is similar to that of P. alchemilloides.

This plant grows wild in the Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal and grows on rocky slopes.