Plant of the Month: Pelargonium Pt.2 (October 2026)

Plant Fairs are irresistible places: my planned budget (every single year) goes completely out the window by the time I reach the very first stall! Which means that I usually end the day spending three times my allotted budget. But, I am happy and very content with my purchases, especially when I take home choice Pelargoniums that I’ve not seen before. These are the varieties, apart from Pelargonium sidoides, that have been purchased at various stalls at the Horniman Museum Plant Fairs during 2025 and 2026.

Pelargonium ‘Black Prince’

The photo of this very handsome specimen, taken during the summer, is one of Margaret T’s plants, purchased in 2025 at the above fair. This is an old, 1852 cultivar and I am not surprised it’s been around for so long, as it’s just so gorgeous to gaze at: rich, deep purple-wine petals, set off by white edges and white centres.

This is a Pelargonium everyone should have.

Pelargonium ‘Lavender Lindy’

My plant is in full flower at the moment, situated on a table in the sunshine, with several sprays of small, single, pink flowers with cerise-pink centres, on arching stems.

The foliage is also very attractive – small, grey-green, scented leaves to enhance the blooms.

Pelargonium tongaense (Tonga geranium)

This lovely pelargonium is also in flower right now – small and single, soft-orange sprays on arching stems. The foliage is ivy-shaped but velvety to the touch.

This plant is also growing nicely, so hopefully there will be cuttings available next year.

Pelargonium sidoides (African geranium)

A medicinal plant, products of which can be found in health food stores. Extracts from the roots are used to reduce symptoms of colds, bronchitis and several other ailments.

This is a very choice Pelargonium, as both the foliage and flowers are a delight to behold. Sprays of small, deep magenta-purple flowers on arching stems contrast beautifully with the small, rounded, grey-green leaves. I’ve seen pedestal containers of P. sidoides planted with grey-foliage plants and it’s a lovely combination.

I keep my very mature plant outside all year round but it is situated in a very sheltered location, on a tall metal stand abutting the rear elevation. It has extra protection from the foliage of Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’, the long flowering stems arching over the plant during the winter months.

However, I would like to emphasise that it is important to bring all your pelargoniums indoors for the winter months, including your P. sidoides. I lost P. ‘Black Prince’ last winter as I forgot to bring it indoors and consequently had to obtain a cutting from the parent plant mentioned above.

Everyone should have at least one Pelargonium in their home, with pride of place on their kitchen windowsill. The CABAHS plant fair held on 18 October at Charlton House’s Horn Fair, with all proceeds going to the Greenwich and Bexley Hospice, proved how very popular Pelargoniums are, with trays of different varieties being snapped up, taken home to ‘light-up and ‘warm-up’ the kitchens of our local plant-lovers.

Anna L