Pelargonium peltatum leaves

These shiny, thinly succulent leaves of Pelargonium peltatum were found growing in May on a rocky outcrop high on the Rooiberg, alongside the dirt road between Calitzdorp and Van Wyksdorp. Unfortunately no flowers then; would have had to wait until September!

The leaf lobes don’t show much indentation here, apart from at the leaf base. But note that the petiole is attached where the leaf segments meet and not on the leaf margin as is common. It is still possible to identify a leaf base as the "centre" is off-centre! The characteristic dark red central zone marking on the leaves is less ring-like here than sometimes seen; and variable in shape and intensity. The red-brown stems zigzag a little between the nodes where the petioles are attached.

This plant has been the start of several garden cultivars and maybe hybrids obtainable from nurseries (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2009).