wild mallow
Pelargonium cucullatum
This wild shrub is one of the primary ancestors of the popular domestic 'regal pelargoniums' grown in gardens globally.
- Scientific name
- Pelargonium cucullatum
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Geraniales › Geraniaceae › Pelargonium
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Coastal fynbos, sandstone slopes, and stabilized sand dunes.
- Diet
- Photosynthesis (sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide).
- Range
- South Africa (Western Cape)
- Size
- 1 to 2 meters in height
- Lifespan
- 5-10 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss from coastal development and encroachment by invasive alien vegetation.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless and highly aromatic. You can safely approach and gently brush the leaves to release their pleasant herbal scent. If sensitive skin develops a mild itch from the leaf hairs, wash the area with cool water.
Pelargonium cucullatum (also called wildemalva , tree pelargonium or hooded-leaf pelargonium ) is a species of plant in the Geraniaceae family, that is indigenous to the south-western Cape of South Africa. It produces masses of pink and purple flowers in the summer and has been used to produce a great number of modern Pelargonium hybrids.
Photo: Tony Rebelo, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/ab4df46b-ed61-43ac-83f1-78011cd949a5.md