Zonice Foglia Scura Lavender (greta)

Class

Dicotyledoneae

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Geraniaceae

Order

Geraniales

Genus

Pelargonium

Species

regional

Description

A vigorous pelargonium with an upright or semi-trailing habit, depending on the variety, and a rounded crown. From spring until mid-autumn, it produces umbel-shaped inflorescences with petals in a wide range of colours, creating colourful and eye-catching displays in pots and planters, making it the ideal choice for enhancing terraces, balconies and building façades. It is highly hardy and requires little maintenance.

Variety description

A dark-leaved, compact and heat-tolerant variety. Due to its compact growth habit, it is suitable for denser planting than average, and is therefore more profitable. Together with the Sansone interspecific varieties, which have lighter-coloured leaves, it shows excellent heat tolerance on the balcony, as does the entire dark-leaved Zonice range (Dark Line).

Curiosities and special features

The term Pelargonium derives from the Greek ‘pelargos’, meaning ‘stork’, in reference to the shape of its seeds, which resemble a stork’s beak, whilst the specific epithet ‘zonal’ refers to the dark zones or bands that characterise the leaves.

Origin and distribution

A species native to the range extending from the Cape Province to the coastal province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, it was introduced to Europe in the 17th century.

Initially classified by C. Linnaeus as belonging to the genus Geranium, it was later assigned to the genus Pelargonium, which was officially distinguished at the end of the 18th century by the botanist L’Hèritier.

Commonly known as the zonal pelargonium, it features a wide range of varieties prized by both professional growers and hobbyists for their brightly coloured blooms and ease of cultivation.

Leaf

The leaf blade is five-lobed and tomentose.

Leaf colour

The variegated foliage lends the variety further ornamental appeal.

Plant height

The plant grows to a height of between 0.15 and 0.23 m, making it ideal for mixed plantings with other ornamental plants.

Lifespan

A perennial species, but mainly grown as an annual.

Where to plant

Versatile, it is widely used in various outdoor spaces such asbalconies, terraces, outdoor planters, troughs and window boxes.

Stem

The stem is herbaceous; the plant has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is semi-double, medium-sized, with a dialipetal corolla and solid-coloured petals. It is arranged in medium-sized umbel-like inflorescences. It flowers from early spring to mid-autumn, with a flowering period of between 190 and 210 days.

Growth

A compact-growing variety, ideal for creating striking displays with a moderate number of plants.

Plant habit

Its upright habit means it can be used in a variety of settings, including in arrangements with other flowering plants.

Branching

It develops with Medium branching, expressing a balanced relationship between foliage and flowers.

PH

It grows well in substrates or soils with a slightly acidic pH, particularly with values between 5.8 and 6.5.

Values below 5.3 can lead to excesses of manganese and iron, which first become apparent on the lower leaves as chlorosis and punctate necrosis along the leaf margins.

Sun exposure

Suitable forpartial shade, full sun and dappled shade.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 15 and 24 °C; it grows and flowers well in warm temperate climates.Its physiological temperature range is between 6 and 32 °C.

Use

Owing to the shape and colour tones of its inflorescences, it is highly prized and widely used as a plant in:
Outdoor ornamental settings

Hardiness

A variety ofmedium hardiness.

Soil

For use in pots and planters, we recommend a good-quality potting mix, specifically designed for spring-flowering plants, which is well-draining and contains peat and perlite.

Difficulty

A variety that iseasy to grow and maintain; the level of difficulty involved in its cultivation is, on the whole,low.

Growing tips

To achieve the best results in terms of growth and flowering, we recommend the following cultivation practices:
Avoid over-watering Keep the growing medium dry at low temperatures

Combinations with other plants

Recommended for planting alongside other ornamental plants such as Angelonia angustifolia, Brachyscome multifida,Euphorbia hypericifolia, Glechoma hederacea, Helichrysum petiolare, Heliotropium arborescens, Lobelia erinus, Lobularia xhybrida, Sanvitalia speciosa, Sutera diffusa, Plectranthus coleoides, Verbena x hybrida and Vinca.

care should be taken when arranging the plants in advance according to a design plan that takes into account their mature height as well as colour combinations in relation to the chosen varieties.

Propagation

Vegetative propagation is carried out by taking cuttings.

Watering

Use rainwater, or tap water if necessary, by watering by hand, using a drip system or through sub-irrigation.

In the initial stages following repotting, look after the seedling to prevent stress in its new location. Thereafter, allow the growing medium to dry out slightly between waterings, preventing both periods of drought and waterlogging, the latter of which can cause fungal diseases and root rot, leading to the death of the entire plant.

It is advisable not to wet the above-ground parts in the late afternoon or evening to prevent the development of plant diseases.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilising

This plant requires a fair amount of fertiliser, but care must be taken to avoid over-fertilisation, particularly at the start of cultivation, as this can lower the pH of the growing medium.

During the spring and summer months, apply a liquid fertiliser to the growing medium – to be diluted in the watering water – specifically formulated for ornamental plants and containing the nutrients the plant requires. These nutrients, by promoting growth and the production of new flowers, will help ensure a balanced development between foliage and inflorescences.

Fertilisation should be regular but not excessive. Insufficient fertilisation first causes the foliage to lighten in colour and then leads to the older leaves turning red.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Edibility for humans

Inedible.

Tip

Lavender copes better with the heat and any periods of drought that might occur on the balcony if you happen to forget to water it. In fact, in this case, the lower leaves are less likely to turn yellow; if anything, they take on reddish tints along the edges or across the entire leaf blade, which is less unsightly than the yellow leaves of traditional light-leaved zonal geraniums. To avoid periods of drought, a good solution is to plant it in a flowerbed, where it can send its roots deep into the soil, preferably near a tree that will provide shade during the hottest hours of the day, allowing its beautiful lavender-pink flowers – which contrast beautifully with the dark foliage – to last longer.