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The Pelargonium species

A greater percentage of native Pelargonium species

Are found in South Africa

Pelargoniums around

the world

Which grows in temperate and tropical areas, mainly on the South West corner of South Africa, a region which has some rainfall during the winter months.

They are part of the Geraniaceae family which includes the genera geranium,pelargonium and erodium containing about 830 species.

Approximately 20 Pelargoniums grow in East Africa and about 12 species grow in other areas of the world including Australia, New Zealand,Tasmania, Madagascar, Turkey, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Socotra,Yeman,Iraq & Turkey.

Australia’s pelargonium species include the P. Littorale, a perennial herb which has pink flowers found in coastal areas and also P. Drummondii & P. Australe.

P. Inodorum is native to New Zealand and Australia, it has pale pink flowers which grows in woodland and in forests.

The two tropical Islands St Helena and Tristan da Cunha in the south Atlantic ocean also has Pelargonium species such as :

P. cotyledonis is native to St Helena a white flowered succulent, its local name is “ Old father live forever”

P. grossularioides is an aromatic herb with coconut scented leaves found in Tristan da Cunha and South Africa ( a few have also been found in India, Australia and also Syria). It has light pink to purple flowers and gooseberry colour stems.

P. acugnaticum- similar to P. grossularioides with ovate leaves and pink purple flowers native to Tristan da Cunha.

P. endlicherianum has large pink/purple flowers and grows in mountainous regions in South West Turkey, some have also been found in Syria and Iran.

P. quercetorum are very tall plants with large pink flowers which grow in turkey and Iran.

P. Cayae is a native to South East Madagascar and has large heart shaped leaves and pink flowers.

P. Multibracteatum is native to Africa and the middle east with long ovate leaves and white flowers which grows in rocky areas or mountainsides

The Pelargonium species comprises of about 200 or more perennials, succulents and shrubs.

The Pelargonium species are unquestionably an enchanting and beautiful species with their graceful flowers and range of fragrant leaves in a variety of shapes that make these plants simply unique.

These amazing species native to South Africa are equally as appealing as cultivars, zonals & regals and can look attractive in hanging baskets, pots and window boxes for any garden type.

The elegant & graceful flowers can range in tone from brightly coloured shades of red-pink to pastel shades of pale pink-purple & even light green making these plants ideal for adding that extra colour to your patio or balcony.

The Delicate & heavenly aromatic fragrance of Rose, Apple, Peppermint, Fruit, Lemon, Balsam,

Musk & more all have their own unique aroma and a delight to add to any scented garden.

The fancy leaf shapes also have their own special charm and can resemble that of an Oak, Vine, Southernwood, Birch, Dicondra, Gooseberry, Maple & Currant shaped leaves with a range of textures.

These enchanting & beautiful species have been a fascination for explores, plant collectors and artists since the 1600's when new trade routes began to unfold by the Dutch East India company & many more newly found pelargoniums were being discovered.

The Dutch East India company (VOC) started in 1602 and was created by 73 directors of Small trading organizations.

In 1651 Jan Van Riebeck was given a contract by the Dutch East India company to set up a station in South Africa for when Dutch ships arrived before their long wayward journey to the East.

P. triste was the first recorded pelargonium to travel to Europe & was taken to the botanical gardens of leiden by the VOC, this was a tuberous rooted plant which could withstand long voyages by ship.

They have become more admired over the centuries because of their delightful perfumed flowers and aromatic scented leaves, they have also gained popularity in the production of aromatic oils and has medicinal properties.

Pelargoniums are generally known as Geraniums but were later classed as two individual groups in 1789 by Charles L Heritier.

The word pelargonium is derived from the Greek word “pelargos” meaning stork because the seed head resembles that of a stork.

Thousands of cultivated varieties of pelargoniums were selected for their desirable characteristics, originally from a few native species which may still exist in South Africa to this day.

The Scented leaf pelargoniums have a wide range of benefits including essential oil used in skin care, perfumery, cosmetic soap, the food industry, toiletries, and by medical doctors, aromatherapists, massage for relaxation and to improve blood circulation and can also have a vital role in the sensory garden which can provide children & adults with disabilities to become more absorbed in the textures and fragrance of the leaves, especially for the deaf and blind which can improve their senses of vision, touch, smell and hearing and also to interact & becoming more involved with their surrounding with nature and wildlife.

Other scented shrubs and herbs, editable plants and growing and caring for them can also have its advantages, plants labelled/named in braille, large pathways for wheel chair access and small flower beds containing numerous scented plants at arms reach can also help.

Watch video-

38 pelargonium

Species varieties

Pelargonium endlicherianum

Pelargonium grossularioides

Caring for the

Environment

The earth has given us the beauty of nature: the colourful vibrant flowers

the fragrant leaves for perfume, cosmetics and aromatherapy, the plants, trees, vegetables & fruits for food, medicine & clothing, the air we breathe as well as the amazing insects, birds & animals which forms our world.

Growing more trees & plants to create more gardens has many benefits especially in urban settings which can of course not only add beauty to the surroundings but also can encourage bees, butterflies and other insects to the environment.

Trees and plants absorb and remove carbon dioxide from the air during its natural process of photosynthesis, it absorbs the sunlight and replaces it with the air we breathe, so the nurture & growing of trees and plants can help preserve the environment.

Bees are the major flower pollinator in the natural world and are said to pollinate around 85% of the food that we eat and also provides us with honey, royal jelly and beeswax.

According to recent study a flower can hear the sound of a bee buzzing close to it and after a few minutes it produces sweeter nectar sugar to attract the bee and encourage pollination. Due to the flowers shape which is similar to a bowl and can pick up vibrations & sound waves, from a new study at Tel Aviv university on an evening primrose flower.

Plants and trees can also communicate to each other by olfaction where they release odours to other plants which contain ethylene and give signals when they become threatened by disease, invading insects or become damaged, other plants can recognize these odours from near by and try to defend themselves.

They also communicate through their roots and in a forest are said to produce networks of connecting root systems to neighbouring plants known as mycelia network where they interact and give each other information, larger trees give aid to the younger trees and seedlings encouraging growth and help with their survival, supplying them with sugar and other nutrients. From a study by Professor Suzanne Simard & Canadian forest researchers using DNA.

Plants and trees are simply an amazing part of our natural world and even contain mechanoreceptors in their leaves and stems which is similar to how we feel touch on our skin. Plants know when you touch them, when the wind blows their leaves and when an insect lands on their leaf, from numerous studies on the Venus fly trap and the mimosa pudica plants.

Plants can be a joy to grow especially from seedlings which can give satisfaction to any garden, balcony or greenhouse. They are a precious part of nature & our environment and are not to be forgotten or undervalued whether you live in the town,city or countryside.

All our flowers are pollinated naturally by bees and other wildlife including honey bees, bumble bees, Mediterranean bee and the humming bird hawk moth as well as various butterflies.

We are working together with nature & wildlife, all our plants are grown in a natural environment without the use of chemicals or pesticides.

The fertilizer used on the plants is organic and is made from natural sources and all our seeds are picked carefully by hand.

We are situated in a mountainous area of Crete, Greece with the natural beauty of the fauna and flora including wild orchids, wild flowers, lizards , butterflies, many bird species and our most recent visitor a badger.

Our aim is to collect a wide range of pelargonium species, scented leaf & succulents.

More info & References

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/01/flowers-can-hear-bees-and-make-their-nectar-sweeter/

How trees talk to each other in the forest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHZ0a_6TxY

Book-What a plant knows by Daniel Chamovitz

How trees talk to each other- suzanne simard https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un2yBgIAxYs