My fascination with Pelargoniums

Observations on a genus that offers resilience, intriguing flowers and fantastic foliage

I must have had a thing for Pelargoniums more than 20 years ago. I don’t really remember it that clearly, however I found a monograph called Geraniums hiding in my bookshelf … a clear sign of a past passion.

This new addiction was prompted by picking up a few scented leaved Pellies at a local Garden Centre. The combination of strange foliage fragrance and delicate little flowers marked with tiny ‘brushstrokes’ so typical of the genus got me hooked once again.

I think the next step was seeing Sarah Raven in the corner of my computer screen extolling the virtues of Regals and Uniques so I placed an order. Her plants seemed pricey but after 20 years I expected costs to have risen. For quality plants from a reputable supplier I felt it was worth paying top dollar. I think I am not alone in shelling out too much dosh for an indulgent passion. It was a disappointment. After waiting too long for delivery I eventually had the spine chilling message from Evri ‘We’ve got your plants’. That usually means a late delivery of a box of mashed plants, well that’s my experience of Evri. That is exactly what arrived. What had been a nice plant of P. ‘Cavendish’ was upside down with all but one branch broken off. I tried to get help from SR customer care - just a bot to deal with, no fun at all.

So with the excuse of disappointment with my first order I searched Google for ‘Pelargonium’ and up popped names I remembered from almost a quarter of a century ago. Fibrex, Vernons, Wootens and Allwoods. It being a bit late in the season availability was limited so I ordered from all of the suppliers who had at least some interesting varieties. In total I placed 10 or more orders. It has been interesting seeing how each grower deals with the challenge of shipping delicate plants around the UK. They all did a better job than Sarah Raven.

“Pelargoniums are for me a sort of test flower. For my experience has told me that people who do not like Pelargoniums have something morally unsound about them... Never trust a man or woman who is not passionately devoted to Pelargoniums.” Beverley Nichols (from Laughter on the Stairs)

While ‘googling’ I came across a new word to me. Zonartic kept cropping up and I had never heard or seen the word before. The Zonartic story grabbed my interest and I had to try a few plants. In early June the only ones available were on Ebay but at a price. I placed a small order. The plants arrived in just three days, the kind of almost instant gratification that is addictive in itself … I ordered a few more. It has been a relief to see these plants thrive in my Keder house. I’ll write at length about Zonartics later - there is plenty to share about them.

Looking ahead I will share my experiences of the different suppliers of Pelargoniums. Who came out on top? …….. of Wenhaston. Can you fill in the blank?

Here’s a Zonartic bud, I find them very beautiful, so full of promise and the essence of the genus.