Geranium Africanum foliis inferioribus …Bauhin

 in Praeludia Botanica, 1703

these plants are all considered members of the species Pelargonium peltatum.

             'Pink Carnation'            'Fringed Rouletta'              'Evka'                   'Caliente Coral'    

                       'Crocodile'       'Artic Frost'

Geranium peltatum—Curtis           Pelargoium scutatum—Sweet       P. lateripes-L’Heritier 

The native habitat for this species is the southern region of South Africa. In their

natural habitat the plants show a certain amount of variability, particularly in flower

color, petiole attachment, leaf patterning, and hairiness. In the early taxonomic history

of the species, the plants showing certain characteristics were given different

names. These plants were introduced into Europe by some of the early European

travelers. The first records indicate that the plants were grown in 1701 in Holland

by seeds sent from South Africa. These plants were described and illustrated in

of binomial nomenclature was not established and a descriptive phrase described the

plant. In 1753, Linnaeus (credited with establishing the two-word names for species

separate subcategory of plants with seven fertile stamens (now considered the genus

his Vol. 1, as Fig. 95, for plants grown from seeds collected in 1819 in South Africa.

showing the tetraploid (4n) number of 36. The following species in the section

made by Mr. Wills in England in the 1870’s. These hybrids showed characteristics

of both parents. The foliage looked more ivy-like than zonal-like and was of a

still grown today include ‘Rococo’, ‘Santa Maria Centennial’, Ball Flora-

Plant’s commercial line Galleria, and the Deacon series of zonal geraniums. (The

Calientes series of geraniums from Fischer/Syngenta is usually incorrectly referred

to as an ivy-zonal cross but the patent applications identifies the parents of these

‘Saxifragoides’. The origin and relationships of this plant are somewhat obscure.

It is most similar to the cultivar ‘Gay Baby’.

When one looks at the range of variation seen among the ivy-leafed geraniums, the

plants have come a long way from the whitish and lavender-colored single flowers

of the wild species. The full range of flower colors includes white, many shades

of pink, apricot, orange, shades of red, scarlet, lavender and burgundy.

The flowers may be single (with five petals) or semi-double or fully double. The

first double-flowered ivy originated about the mid-1870’s as a chance seedling in

flowers were described as pinkish lilac, veined and feathered with carmine and

white. The first colored illustration of the plant indicates a plant similar to many

lavender-flowered cultivars available today.

Petals with a toothed or fringed edge have been found in many cultivars in the

The variation in leaves which is of interest to the plant fancier relates to variegation.

Three patterns are found to be genetic and a fourth is due to a benign virus

infection. The simple whitish or ivory leaf margin is found in many plants and is

usually due to a particular arrangement of genetically different layers of cells in

the leaf. The old-time cultivar, ‘L’Elegante’ shows this characteristic. It may

also exhibit a pinkish leaf edge if the plant is somewhat stressed (cold, drought,

low soil fertility). More elaborate whitish marks within the body of the leaf,

called “hit-or-miss” variegation is considered to be attractive. Lastly, the appearance

of a lighter colored area near the base of the leaf is referred to as

“butterfly” variegation and is found in many of the cultivars of balcony type

ivies.

The last form of leaf variegation is the net pattern covering the surface of the

leaf. This is due to a “vein clearing virus” in which the cells over the veins of

the leaf are devoid of chlorophyll (the green pigment of plants). This virus does

not seem to injure the infected plant and is considered benign. The virus can be

mechanically transmitted from one plant to another by grafting. The virus

moves from an infected branch into the cells of an uninfected plant. Many cultivars

are available with this virus and include ‘Crocodile’, ‘White Mesh’ and others.

The virus has also been transmitted to zonal geraniums. Another benign

virus affects the color pattern in the flowers. Infected plants show white areas in

the petals giving the flowers a mottled appearance. Many such cultivars are

available but the most spectacular (in my opinion) are those with darker colored

flowers. This virus is also transmitted mechanically from one plant to another

by grafting.

The variation in the insertion of the petiole on the leaf blade was the character

of the petiole to the leaf blade). This character seems to be under simple genetic

control and is not considered today to be of a magnitude to distinguish species.

In addition, a band, ring or zone of darker colored cells may or may not be present

at the base of the leaf. This character is variable in wild populations and

probably is under simple genetic control. Leaves may vary in their hairiness.

Some are quite smooth while others are quite velvety in appearance and feel. In

addition, some plants produce leaves that are distinctly scented, somewhat sweet

smelling or somewhat pungent or scentless.

Major horticultural companies have their own proprietary lines of ivy geraniums.

The Fischer Company (now owned by Syngenta) developed

the Blizzard line (single flowers), the Contessa line, the Freestyle line and the

Temprano line. The Oglevee Company (now owned by Ecke and better known

as the poinsettia company) has the Global line of compact ivies with numerous

color variations. Ball FloraPlant has a line of ivies called Colorcade also with

many color variations. PAC- Elsner has developed many varieties including the

variegated dwarf cultivar ‘Evka’. The Dummen Company has three lines including

the double-flowered Red Fox Pacific line with many colors; a line of

single flowered types called the Ville de Paris series and the Atlantic line also

with double flowers.

All of these cultivars are propagated vegetatively. That is, cuttings are removed

from a parent plant and rooted in sterile medium. In this way any desirable

plant is cloned producing an endless number of identical offspring. Terminal

cuttings of three or four obvious nodes with leaves are removed from the parent

plant. The lowest two leaves and stipules are removed before placing the cutting

in rooting medium. Rooting compounds are not essential but bottom heat

will hasten the rooting process. Roots usually appear in less than a month and

the plantlet can then be potted into a well drained, fertile, organic medium.

Pinching out the terminal bud will induce branching. Cultivars vary in their tolerance

of full sunlight. If sun burning of the foliage occurs, a location with

morning sun and afternoon shade will provide a more suitable location.

Ivy geraniums can also be grown from seed. Three companies have developed

Syngenta have the ‘Tornado’ line; and Flora Nova has the ‘Summertime’

line. In all lines, the single flowers come in white, pink, red and lavender

shades.

Ivy geraniums are generally free of major problems. New growth is susceptible

to attack by plant lice or aphids. They may be washed off, removed by hand, or

killed by a soapy water spray or neem oil. Spider mites may be a problem in

very dry locations. If the foliage is wetted periodically spider mites will not

survive. If plants are kept too wet they may develop watery looking spots on

the undersides of the leaves. This condition is called edema (or oedema). This

may develop from overwatering, especially in cool weather. It is primarily a

cosmetic problem and many newer cultivars are resistant to this condition. In

contrast to zonal geraniums, rust and budworms do not attack ivy geraniums.