Pelargonium cucullatum

Pelargonium cucullatum , in Afrikaans the wildemalva (wild pelargonium), is a strong-growing, hairy shrub reaching heights around 2 m. Three subspecies are recognised.

The flowers vary in shade from light pinkish purple to deep pink and the occasional plant flowering white. The petals are broad and wavy; the upper two petals have dark line markings in the centre. Blooming happens from the end of winter until the end of summer.

The species distribution is in the far southwest of the Western Cape, coastal and slightly inland. It is here photographed by the sea at Onrus.

The habitat is mostly sandy soil on sandstone and granite slopes in the winter rainfall region. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century.

The flowers last well in water, may be considered as a cut flower (Manning, 2009; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).