Geranium palmatum

Geranium palmatum is the palmate geranium, a large botanical species from Madeira, quite different from the small hardy geraniums used in borders. It first forms a broad rosette, borne on long petioles, then produces a light summer flowering, in a pinkish-mauve shade, above the foliage. With an exotic appearance and temperament, this short-lived perennial suits gardens in mild climates, bright courtyards and large containers. It enjoys moist, well-drained soil and must be protected from hard frost.

This geranium belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is called palmate geranium or palmate-leaved geranium. It should not be confused with balcony pelargoniums, nor with Geranium maderense, the true Madeira geranium, which is even more massive and spectacular. The main botanical synonyms for the species are Geranium anemonifolium, Geranium lowii, Geranium rutilans and Robertium anemonifolium. This Geranium palmatum is native to Madeira, where it grows notably near the levadas, the irrigation channels that traverse the island’s slopes. This habitat gives a good indication of its needs: light, mild conditions, and a soil that retains some moisture without remaining waterlogged. It is a short-lived plant, biennial or not very durable perennial. It first forms a large rosette of evergreen leaves, then flowers abundantly before fading more or less quickly. In a favourable climate, it maintains itself through spontaneous sowing, which allows a few young plants to persist. Its rosette reaches 50 cm to 1 m across. The leaves, borne on long petioles, are deeply divided into palmate lobes, medium green, taking on red or bronze tints in cool weather. The stems are thick, ramified, and covered with small reddish, slightly sticky hairs. Flowering takes place in summer, from July to September. The flowers, 4 cm wide, open into cups of mauve-pink to purplish-pink around a darker centre. They are gathered in large, ramified inflorescences, well above the foliage, and attract pollinating insects. After flowering, the elongated, beak-shaped fruits release the seeds at ripeness. This beautiful botanical species has received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society, a testament to its ornamental value in gardens with suitable climates. Its great weakness is the cold: the foliage is quickly damaged by repeated light frosts, and the stump does not withstand temperatures below -6/-8°C in dry soil under a mulch.

This geranium can be grown in the open ground in gardens along the Atlantic coast, in south Brittany, the Basque Country, sheltered urban areas, or on the Mediterranean coast. It is placed near a patio, in a sheltered courtyard, or at the foot of a wall for protection. Growing it in a large pot makes it easier to protect. It pairs well with the bell flowers of Fuchsia magellanica 'Riccartonii', the deep violet of the large sage Salvia x guaranitica 'Amistad', and the slender stems of Dierama pulcherrimum 'Blackbird'. At the back of the border or on the side, Melianthus major displays a very dissected blue-grey foliage that is perfectly at home in an exotic garden.