Pelargonium ×hortorum L.H.Bailey

Aromatic subshrub to c. 1 m tall, densely clothed in short, soft hairs. Stems almost succulent when young; glands abundant, sessile. Stipules large and prominent, to 1.5 cm wide, broadly ovate-cordate. Petioles usually > lamina. Lamina to c. 14 cm diam. (to c. 20 cm in cultivation), less on flowering shoots, orbicular or sub orbicular with a deep narrow sinus to the cordate base, sometimes ± reniform, velvety, often with a dark ring around the middle above; margin crenate and scalloped. Peduncles often to c. 30 cm long. Fls 20–40; pedicels < 8 mm long, curving downwards and buds pendent before anthesis, densely covered in glandular hairs, often purple. Sepals 4–10 mm long, narrow- or oblong-elliptic, purple or green, usually densely covered with patent hairs, occasionally glabrate; calyx spur 0.5–3.5 cm long. Corolla somewhat irregular, usually single and scarlet; lower 3 petals 1- c. 2.5 cm long, imbricate, broad-obovate; upper 2 petals slightly smaller. Style ± red, at least in upper part; stigmas red. Mericarps fusiform, ± hispid.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.