Geranium maderense

Geranium maderense is a rather curious botanical species originally from, as its name suggests, the island of Madeira. It is a short-lived but truly spectacular perennial plant: covered with large, shiny and highly dissected leaves, it stabilises itself by pressing the stalks of its leaves on the ground, while beautiful fresh pink flowering appears in spring, arranged in large clusters reaching over 1m (3ft) in height. It is a very ornamental but frost-sensitive plant, which should be grown in open ground only in the mildest regions. Gardeners in colder areas will plant it in a large pot, placed on the terrace during the warm season and protected from frost in winter.

Geranium maderense, from the geranium family, is one of the 4 endemic perennial botanical species found in the islands of Madeira and the Canaries, which have a warm temperate climate but are somewhat humid: Geranium reuteri, G. rubescens, and G. palmatum, which closely resembles our G. maderense but is more resilient to cold. The maderense species discussed here is native to the laurel forests of Madeira Island (the surviving primary laurel forest of Madeira), where it is currently endangered.

It is a semelparous plant, meaning it will only live to flower once before dying: sometimes considered biennial, the Madeira geranium can actually live for 3 or 4 years before flowering to ensure its perpetuation by producing numerous seeds. At maturity and in bloom, the plant can exceed 1m (3ft) in height and 80cm (32in) in width. It forms a trunk that gradually rises as the foliage, ample, glossy and beautifully dissected, appears. The trailing leaves are a vivid green, carried on dark red petioles which the plant uses to rest on the ground. From February to June, depending on the climate, spectacular inflorescences emerge, consisting of several hundred small cup-shaped flowers in pink, ranging from 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter. Each cluster of flowers, measuring up to 1m (3ft) in width, is carried on a mauve and villous stem or trunk. The flower colour is a fresh and tender pink, veined with darker shades and enhanced by a violet throat. Depending on the climate, flowering may continue sporadically until autumn. The flowers, pollinated by insects, give way to long green fruits that "explode" at maturity to release a large quantity of very fine seeds.

This superb species can be grown in open ground only in regions where frosts do not exceed -4°C (24.8°F). However, it tolerates pot cultivation very well. It should be brought indoors at the first frost to a bright room, to be kept frost-free. Create a subtropical setting reminiscent of the lushness of its native islands by associating Geranium maderense with Digiplexis, agaves, small cordylines, Melianthus major, vipers, Beschorneria, etc.