Re: Pelargonium sidoides?

I live in LA so it would not be helpful to you to find a place down here. I wanted to tell you that I have the hybrid you describe and it suffered very badly from the freeze we had, so perhaps that is why there are none around up there. It's a great plant, beautiful when the sun shines through the very dark flowers. Cathy 
On May 1, 2007, at 7:44 PM, Sean A. O'Hara wrote:
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
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