Pelargonium rodneyanum
magenta stork's-bill
Overview
Pelargonium rodneyanum is a low tufted perennial herb in the Geraniaceae family growing 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall from a thickened woody rootstock. The greyish-green leaves are 1-2.5 inches (2.5-6 cm) long, oval to heart-shaped with scalloped, toothed margins, and form a loose basal rosette on long stalks. Slender stems carry clusters of 3-8 magenta to deep pink flowers 0.6-1 inch (1.5-2.5 cm) across through spring and summer, each with five petals, the upper two marked with darker veins. The fruit is a beaked capsule that splits and coils to fling out the seed, the form that gives storks-bills their name. The plant dies back to the rootstock in dry summers and reshoots after rain. It is generally short-lived in cultivation, lasting 3-5 years, and self-seeds where conditions suit.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, in inland Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. Grows on rocky outcrops, dry slopes, and open woodland on shallow, well-drained soils.Suggested Uses
Planted in rockeries, dry borders, and container plantings, spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart. The magenta flowers draw native bees and other insects. The summer dieback leaves gaps, which limits its use as continuous groundcover.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 1'
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
magenta to deep pinkFoliage Description
greyish-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in full sun to part shade on free-draining sandy, loamy, or rocky soil. Water through the growing season; the plant dies back to the rootstock in dry summers and reshoots after rain. Established plants tolerate drought and light frost. Crowns can rot in soils that stay wet over winter. Crowded plants can be divided in autumn, and self-sown seedlings transplant while small.Pruning
Spent flower stems can be cut back to encourage further bloom and limit self-seeding. Dried leaves can be removed as the plant dies down in summer. Division of the rootstock in autumn renews older plants.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fall
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons