December 2008 in the Southern Hemisphere

[fermi de Sousa]

Fermi your Pelargonium sidoides looks like it is P. reniforme. Does it look like this?

Hi Mark,
no, the colour is much darker. I think my pic isn't very good for showing its true colour. It seems to match pics on the web for P. sidioides. I don't think I've got reniforme.
I think you're right about P. fulgidum, thanks for the ID.

Ross,
very nice to see you here and to see your plants.
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Mark,

If the plant that they were selling at the show down there is the same as the one that Fermi has, then it is not reniforme.  I have reniforme (well that is what i bought it as anyway) and it has somewhat smaller leaves (in my conditions at least) that aren't the same shape.  I think I would have recognised reminforme if I saw it there?

So how big does reniforme grow for you Mark?  Stays quite small and slender here for me.  Survives the frost, although happier in more cover.  Delightful leaves and flowers, and such a stong colour.

[fermi de Sousa]

Here's a close-up pic of the Pelargonium sidioides, which still doesn't capture the depth of colour but is closer than the previous one.
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

That is a good dark colour, Fermi. 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Great colour Fermi !!!

[Paul T]

Wow! 

[mark smyth]

Would the colour be close to black?

[fermi de Sousa]

Would the colour be close to black?

Yes, Mark,
the colour is a blackish maroon, darker than in the pic.
cheers
fermi

[maggiepie]

How lovely!
I haven't seen any of this type of pelargonium before.

[fermi de Sousa]

How lovely!
I haven't seen any of this type of pelargonium before.

It's one of the myriad of species from South Africa, I think.
cheers
fermi

[t00lie]

Another plant from South Africa Fermi is Gladiolus pappei.

Flowering quickly from seed --sown 20 March 2007 x NARGS.

Opens dark pink which fades after a day or two.

Cheers Dave

[David Nicholson]

Very nice Dave.

[Hans J]

Here's a close-up pic of the Pelargonium sidioides, which still doesn't capture the depth of colour but is closer than the previous one.
cheers
fermi

Hi Fermi ,

Do you make your own medicin from this plants ?
In Germany they sell it under "Umkaloabo"
Never seen this plant before - really nice !

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Beautiful Gladi Dave - how tall does it grow

[t00lie]

Hello Luc

The plant stands at about 25 cm high---thin linear leaves.

Although our garden is classed as woodland i'm delighted on how well most of these later Cape bulbs cope with part shade.
Growing most of them in pots means i can move them under cover in winter to control moisture levels.
 
As a result of my continued fascination with the flora of that region i have many other species yet to flower,so it's going to be an interesting following year or so.

Cheers dave .