Pelargonium australe (Native Storksbill/Wild Geranium) Australian Native Plant Profile

Description

Pelargonium australe is a perennial plant that gets to 50cm. It’s a herbaceous plant that is covered in soft hairs. Pelargonium australe has clusters of pink flowers (known as umbels) which reach up above the plant. Flowering is from October to March.

Growing Conditions

Pelargonium australe occurs naturally along the coast in sand dunes or on coastal cliffs. It can also be found inland around rocky areas. Distribution for Pelargonium australe is very wide occurring from South East QLD through NSW, VIC, SA, WA and TAS. Handling a wide range of soil types, Pelargonium australe grows best in full sun and is quite drought tolerant. 

Habitat Value

Low growing but dense foliage provides excellent shelter to smaller animals such as skinks, small mammals and insects. It’s ability to colonise areas makes it of great value for shelter in areas where there is a lack of higher canopy cover. A long flowering period provides food for many pollinators as well.

Uses

Environmentally Pelargonium australe is a key species for dune restoration and vegetation. With many coastal areas losing dune vegetation through human activity Pelargonium australe plays a key role in dune stabilisation and habitat for coastal fauna. 

In the garden Pelargonium australe has many uses from being an excellent container or hanging basket plant to being a great border or rockery plant. It’s an excellent choice in coastal gardens where many other plants may struggle with sandy soil and salt spray. The long flowering period also makes it a great plant for use around the veggie patch as a pollinator attracting plant.

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Further Reading

https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Pelargonium~australe

https://finder.growingillawarranatives.org/plants/plant/359