Why pink is so popular
Pink pelargoniums are probably the best-selling colour for balconies, because they go with nearly every other shade. The range includes pale shell pink, salmon, coral and strong rose. Our own native storksbill, Pelargonium australe, bears pink flowers with darker veins, so pink has a place in the wild here as well.
Types to look for
- Zonal pink pelargoniums give compact, rounded flower clusters.
- Ivy-leaved pink forms trail over the edge of a basket.
- Regal pink types have frilled petals with darker blotches.
- Rosebud forms look like tiny, tightly packed roses.
Climate and calendar
Plant in autumn or spring in most areas, avoiding the peak of summer heat. In Sydney and Melbourne they flower for many months with regular deadheading. In Brisbane the best show is in the cooler, drier months from autumn to spring. In Hobart and Canberra, frost can burn flowers and tips, so cover plants on clear nights or keep pots near a wall.
A simple routine
Give at least five hours of sun, water when the top of the soil dries, and remove spent flowers. Mix in some slow-release fertiliser at planting. Cut stems back by a third in late winter to freshen leggy plants.
Chewing is not advised
Cats and dogs sometimes nibble pelargonium leaves. The ASPCA warns that horses are also at risk, and that geraniol and linalool can lead to vomiting, appetite loss and dermatitis.
