Plant Profile
Pelargonium Cucullatum
Common names: Wilde-Malva
Plant Type :
Height :
Evergreen :
Indigenous :
Position :
Moisture :
Soil :
Wind :
Frost :
Sub Shrub
Up to 1 m
Evergreen
Indigenous
Full Sun
Average water
Light Soil
Wind Resistant
Some Frost
Pelargonium cucullatum is a tough and widespread shrub, which grows on the sandy and granite slopes along the Cape coast from Saldanha to Baardskeerdersbos, and are easily grown and fairly adaptable.
It is a fast growing, tough shrub tolerant to coastal conditions, and is also excellent for growing in containers on a sunny patio, informal borders and rockeries.
It is a fast growing, tough shrub tolerant to coastal conditions, and is also excellent for growing in containers on a sunny patio, informal borders and rockeries.
Pelargonium cucullatum is a tough and widespread shrub, which grows on the sandy and granite slopes along the Cape coast from Saldanha to Baardskeerdersbos.
Pelargonium cucullatum requires full sun and little attention once it is established.
Foliage
Colour :
Use :
Other :
Identification Tool :
The leaves are more or less round or kidney-shaped and cupped, sometimes succulent. When crushed the leaves of some forms emit a strong, sweet scent. The leaves are approximately 5-8 cm wide, turned upward, slightly incised and have reddish tips. Both the stems and leaves are hairy.
Flower
Time : Colour :
Use :
Other :
Identification Tool :
Spring / Summer
Light Pink , Pink , Dark Pink , Fuschia , Cerise
For Vase
Unspecified
- Flower morphology
When in flower Pelargonium cucullatum is covered with pinkish, purple flowers and is the most conspicuous pelargonium in the south western Cape, especially when growing in dense masses.
Go to Plants of the Week Advanced SearchPelargonium cucullatum (L) L'Hér.Family: GeraniaceaeCommon names: hooded-leaf pelargonium, herba althaea (Eng.); wildemalva (Afr.)View other plants in this familyQR code linkView other plants in this genus
Pelargonium cucullatum is the parent of many modern pelargonium hybrids. It is a fast growing, tough shrub tolerant to coastal conditions, and is also excellent for growing in containers on a sunny patio, informal borders and rockeries.
Pelargoinium cucullatum
Description
When in flower Pelargonium cucullatum is covered with pinkish, purple flowers and is the most conspicuous pelargonium in the south western Cape, especially when growing in dense masses.
P.cucullatum
Pelargonium cucullatum is a fairly tall, sprawling shrub that grows to a height of more than 2 m. The shrub is branched with the bottom of the main stem becoming quite woody. The leaves are more or less round or kidney-shaped and cupped, sometimes succulent. When crushed the leaves of some forms emit a strong, sweet scent. The leaves are approximately 5-8 cm wide, turned upward, slightly incised and have reddish tips. Both the stems and leaves are hairy.
The flowers come in many shades, ranging from dark to light mauve and pink. Occasionally white forms are also found. The veins on the flowers are streaked purple and are prominent on all five petals. Pelargonium cucullatum flowers profusely for a month or two, any time from September to February. The flowers are faintly scented. Sunbirds, butterflies, long-beaked flies and moths have all been observed visiting the flowers.
NOTES
The rose-scented pelargonium is cultivated for its oil of geranium. The sweetly scented leaves are a wonderful skin softener. The leaves can be rubbed into the hands to soothe calluses and scratches into heels to soften horny cracked skin and can be tied to a piece of muslin and used in the bath as a skin and wash treatment which also soothes rashes. A tea made from leaves was an old remedy used by people from the Cape to treat kidney and bladder ailments stomach cramps nausea vomiting diarrhoea and flatulence.
