Pelargonium bowkeri

Pelargonium bowkeri lives for more than two years. It belongs to the geranium family, Geraniaceae. It grows in subtropical parts of South Africa. Its range spans the eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. People call it carrot-leaved geranium, cat’s tail pelargonium, and frilled pelargonium. Kew calls it a tuberous geophyte. This means it stores food in a tuber below ground. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Plants For A Future lists blooms from July to August. Each flower has both male and female organs. The sources give no flower colour or shape for this species. They give no height or spread for a full-grown plant. The RHS page covers leaves and flowers across the genus. That does not show this species’ own leaf or flower form.

Grow this plant in sun, in soil that drains well. Both sand-based soil and loam suit it. Plants For A Future says to use neutral to alkaline soil. Its wider soil list also includes slightly acid soil. The plant accepts dry or moist soil, but not shade. Keep it fairly dry through winter. Frost can harm it, so it needs winter shelter in Britain. A greenhouse or conservatory can keep it sheltered in cold months. It may grow outdoors in the mildest areas. Such sites must be warm and sheltered.

Pots let plants spend summer outdoors and winter under cover. Another suggested site is by a south- or west-facing wall. The plant can take hard pruning, even to its base. Prune in autumn when you bring it indoors. Or prune in spring for fresh growth. Sow fresh seed under glass as soon as it ripens. Sow stored seed in early spring. At least 13°C helps seeds sprout. Some may sprout within two weeks; others take months. Keep young plants under glass through at least their first winter. Cuttings can root in the growing season. Taking them in early summer gives them time to take hold.

Plants For A Future lists the leaves as edible. It does not say how to prepare them or how much to use. It also lists all plant parts as astringent. This means they can make body tissues tighten. These brief notes give no steps for medical use. The same source lists no known hazards or risk of becoming a weed. But the evidence does not show whether this plant is safe for pets. It gives no pest or disease details for this species.