Village Dark Red

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.

Varietal description

A medium-early variety with a round, uniform crown. The uniformity of the plants in the crop is the main characteristic of this variety, alongside its hardiness. ‘Village Dark Red’ complements the range of red varieties in the Zonice Compact series, which shares the same characteristics. Owing to its red colour, it is one of the most popular choices for windowsills and terraces.

curiosity 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 Diffusion

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 established in the late 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 color

The variegated foliage lends the variety further ornamental appeal.

Plant height

The plant grows to a height of between 0.25 and 0.3 m, making it ideal for mixed plantings with other ornamental plants.

Lifespan

A perennial species, but mainly grown as an annual.

Suggested planting locations

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

Stem/stem

The stem is herbaceous; the plant has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is semi-double, medium-sized and has solid-coloured petals. It grows in umbel-shaped inflorescences. It flowers from mid-spring to mid-autumn, with a flowering period of between 200 and 230 days.

Growth

A variety with medium to vigorous growth, 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, dappled shade and full sun.

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/medium

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.

Maintenance

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

cultivation tips

To achieve the best growth and flowering results, we recommend the following cultivation practices:
Keep the growing medium dry at low temperatures In summer, it prefers shaded positions to avoid drought stress and high afternoon temperatures

Composition

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.

Reproduction/Propagation

Vegetative propagation is carried out by taking cuttings.

Irrigation

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

Fertilization

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.

advise 1

The dark-leaved zonal geranium is less demanding in terms of fertiliser than the more common light-leaved varieties; it should be fertilised, but care must be taken to avoid over-fertilisation, which initially manifests as the soil remaining damp for longer periods – even in hot weather – and subsequently leads to root rot. Insufficient fertilisation, on the other hand, first causes the foliage to fade and then leads to the older leaves turning red. Similar symptoms occur in the event of intense and sudden exposure to the sun or a sudden drought in summer.