Pelargonium australe aka Pelargonium Australe

Pelargonium australe is a small shrub with a woody base. It keeps its leaves year-round and belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It comes from the south and east of Australia. Kew lists New Zealand as part of its native range, too. Plants For A Future questions whether it grows there naturally. In Australia, its range includes eastern Tasmania and southern Queensland. It grows on coastal dunes and inland granite outcrops. Plants For A Future calls it ivy geranium.

This bushy plant grows about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] tall and wide. The RHS gives a garden range of 0.3–1.6 feet [0.1–0.5 metres]. Plants reach full size in one to two years. The stems are red, and the leaves are dark green. The leaves have pale pink undersides. White flowers have red veins. They bloom from late spring through summer. The leaves add interest when the plant has no flowers.

Grow it in rich soil that drains well. Sand, loam, clay or chalk can suit it. The soil pH can be neutral to alkaline. Full sun is best, but it copes with some shade. Choose a site that faces south or west. Give it shelter from harsh weather. The RHS rates it H2: it needs protection from freezing. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11. These ratings differ, so keeping it frost-free is safer. Move pots indoors before the first autumn frost.

Give it a moderate amount of water from spring through summer. Water less in winter. Let the compost dry out between winter waterings. It copes with drought but does poorly in damp conditions. Use a balanced liquid feed in the growing season. Switch to a high-potassium feed when the flowers start. Pinch shoot tips in spring or early summer. Remove dead flowers to help more blooms form. Take softwood cuttings from spring through autumn. The RHS warns that growing new plants can be hard.

Use it in borders, patio pots, courtyards or informal gardens. You can also grow it in a greenhouse or conservatory. Watch for thrips, vine weevils and leafhoppers. Root mealybugs and whiteflies can cause problems, too. Diseases may include pelargonium rust, pelargonium virus and leafy gall. Plants For A Future lists the root as edible. It gives few details beyond its astringent, or tissue-tightening, nature. It also records medicinal use of all parts for this effect. It reports no known hazards. This does not mean the plant is wholly safe.