Horseshoe Geranium

The classic red geranium 

What we usually call a 'geranium' is in fact a Pelargonium according to growers. Moreover, in the native flora the genus Geranium is known as the cranesbill. Despite this confusion, Pelargoniums are popular plants - in fact a true ‘plant of the people’ from which it is easy to take cuttings.

The cultivar 'Paul Crampel’ (zonal geranium) has greatly contributed to the popularity of geraniums. It is the classic red geranium that adorns window boxes and tubs outside-, and windowsills inside the house.

Wild Pelargoniums are native to Southern Africa and the cultivated varieties originate from here. All Pelargonium x hortorum (formerly Pelargonium zonale) plants can be identified by their almost round, soft leaves with a semi-circular dark band, the 'zone'. These hardy, cultivated geraniums come from France and have been sold for 125 years and counting. 

Paul Crampel was a French adventurer and explorer in Africa. His last voyage, in 1891, proved to be fatal: he was killed in what is now the Central African Republic. After the news reached the French newspapers, the geranium was named in honour of him in 1893.

Pelargoniums are native, almost exclusively, to South Africa and are called ‘stork’s bill’ because the fruit is reminiscent of the beak of a stork (Greek: pelargos). Geraniums on the other hand occur worldwide and have a fruit similar to that of a crane (Greek: geranos).