Pelargonium citronellum

Pelargonium citronellum, the lemon-scented pelargonium, is an evergreen shrub. It has herbaceous branches when young, developing a woody rootstock as it matures, growing to spreading proportions and from 1 m to 2 m tall. The single-stemmed plant does not resprout after fire but reseeds. 

The stems and leaves are sparsely hairy. The leaves are simple, alternate and palmate, with deep, pointed lobes and the surfaces conspicuously veined.

The flowers are light pink with dark purple markings on the two bigger, upper petals. The stamens are dark pink. Blooming happens in spring and early summer.

The species distribution is in the western Little Karoo, the northern foothills of the Langeberg near Ladismith and Herbertsdale.

The habitat population is deemed stable early in the twenty first century, although the range restricted species is rare. 

The plant does well in the gardening world. It grows easily and is hardy. Flowering is best in full sun. The strong lemon scent adds to the plants attraction. It is sometimes used as a culinary herb and as an insect repellent (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).