Pelargonium australe

Pelargonium australe is a perennial herb that is endemic to Australia, and found in all states except the Northern Territory. Common names include native storksbill, wild geranium and austral storksbill. The species grows to 50 cm high and has leaves with 5 to 7 lobes. Umbels of 4 to 12 flowers appear between October and March in the species' native range. These are pink with darker markings. The species was first formally described in 1800 by German botanist Carl Ludwig Willdenow. It occurs on sand dunes, coastal cliffs and rocky outcrops. In cultivation, the species prefers a sunny or lightly shaded position and is adaptable to a wide range of soil types. It is readily propagated by cuttings.

Description

A sprawling or slightly upright herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It can be 70 cm high. It can spread 30-60 cm wide. The stems are downy. The taproot is 5 cm long. The leaves are oval or almost round. They are on long stalks. The leaves are 2-9 cm across. with shallow lobes and wavy edges which are also toothed. The leaves are soft and velvety. The leaves often turn orange-red. The flowers are pale pink in groups of 4-12. Each flower is about 1.5 cm across. The two larger upper petals have red veins. The fruit has a beak. The fruit is 12 mm long.

Edible Uses

The root is edible, though no preparation details are recorded beyond a note that it is astringent.

Traditional Uses

The taproot is cooked and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

All parts of the plant are astringent.

Distribution

It grows in temperate places. It grows in coastal regions, mountains and further inland. It grows on rocky outcrops in grasslands and dry forests. It needs good drainage. It suits hardiness zones 9-10. Tasmania Herbarium. Arboretum Tasmania.

Where It Grows

Australia*, Britain, Europe, Norfolk Island, Tasmania*,

Cultivation

Requires a light well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in a sunny position. Prefers a sandy soil. Plants are not very cold-hardy in Britain, tolerating temperatures down to about 0°c. They generally require greenhouse protection but might succeed outdoors when grown in a very sheltered warm spot in the mildest parts of the country. They can also be grown in containers that are placed outdoors in the summer and then brought into the greenhouse or conservatory for the winter. The plants need to be kept fairly dry in the winter. Very tolerant of pruning, they can be cut right down to the base in the autumn when bringing them back indoors, or in the spring to encourage lots of fresh growth. A polymorphic species, the form from Tasmania is smaller in all parts with green leaves and red petioles.

Propagation

Sow seed as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse, or in early spring if using stored seed. A minimum germination temperature of 13°C is recommended; seeds usually sprout within 2 weeks, though germination can sometimes take several months. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle and overwinter them under glass for at least their first year. If planting outdoors, do so in early summer and consider extra winter protection. Cuttings can be taken at almost any point during the growing season, though early summer is ideal to allow the new plant to establish before winter.

Other Uses

None known.

Notes

There are about 230 Pelargonium species.

Also Known As

Terray

References (27)

• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 768
• Cameron, M., (Ed.) 1981, A Guide to Flowers & Plants of Tasmania. Reed p 106
• Caton, J.M. & Hardwick, R. J., 2016, Field Guide to Useful Native Plants from Temperate Australia. Harbour Publishing House. p 82
• Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 196
• Cronin, L., 1989, The Concise Australian Flora. Reed. p 92

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