Botanical Pelargoniums and Primary Hybrids
Pot size for Pelargoniums: 12 cm diameter
The geraniums that typically decorate our balconies are the result of centuries of human hybridisation. However, beyond commercial trends lie the ‘true’ Pelargoniums: the original botanical Pelargoniums found in the wild. These species are treasures of resilience, fragrance, and unexpected forms that deserve to be rediscovered by every discerning gardener.
The forgotten beauty of original botanical species.
In the wild, the common balcony geranium does not exist. They derive from an intricate series of crosses developed over centuries by enthusiasts and hybridisers. This pursuit of showy colours has often led us to overlook the mother species—the ancestors that, to this day, retain an authentic charm and superior resilience.
There are hundreds of botanical species, many of which are exceptionally beautiful and fragrant. If we look past the convenience of current fashions, gardeners and nurserymen alike could use these varieties to create surprising aesthetic effects with great longevity.
These are plants that command respect; for this reason, we present them with their full botanical names: first the genus, Pelargonium, then the species (e.g., graveolens), and finally the name of the authority who officially described them (e.g., L’Héritier). Rediscovering species pelargoniums means returning to the very origins of natural beauty.
