Pelargonium sidoides?


I am primarily addressing this to California and Bay Area gardeners, but I
hope there is content enough of interest to all.

Our very strange winter just passed, with little rain and significant frost,
has payed havoc with our local nursery plant supply, to be sure.  One plant I
fail to see offered is Pelargonium sidoides, which has been a very popular
plant here in the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley) for some time.  Perhaps it has
become TOO popular and therefore too crass to offer?  Anyway, do any of you
know where I might find a few 4in or gallon pots of this for a project I am
trying to complete?  I have swapped out many of the original plants of this
design because of problems finding them, but this one has nothing to
substitute.

BTW, what is offered in our California plant trade, and perhaps elsewhere as
well, as Pelargonium sidoides I am told by good authority is actually a hybrid
of that species with P. reniforme, a closely related species.  Telltale of
hybridity are the dark red-purple flowers (true P. sidoides are nearly black,
P. reniforme are red-violet) and the vigorous, ever blooming nature, as well
as a complete failure to set seed (sterile).  I have been unable to find any
assigned botanical name for this hybrid, which is a shame as it could likely
be handier to write on a label than 'Pelargonium sidoides x reniforme'!

Any assistance in helping m find a local source for this plant (or a trade?)
can be sent to me personally rather than the group.

Thanks in advance,
Seán A. O'Hara
sean(at)gimcw.org
www.hortulusaptus.com
Berkeley, CA



Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index