Grows well in full coastal sun but tolerates light and even dense shade but blooms best with bright light. Irrigate regularly to occasionally in full sun but only requires an occasional watering in shade. Has proved hardy to at least 26 degrees F in our garden. A very nice plant as a specimen or even uses as a low informal hedge.

Pelargonium cordifolium occurs mainly near the coast in the southern and eastern Cape of South Africa in moist places in the fynbos (shrublands) or in and at the margins of the forests. The name for the genus comes from Johannes Burman (1707-1780, a Dutch physician and botanist whom Linnaeus worked for in his youth. Burman first used the name to describe some South African Geraniums in 1738. The name was derived from the Greek word 'pelargós' meaning "stork" because the seed head looks like that of a stork's beak. The specific epithet comes from the Latin words 'cor' (Greek 'kardia') meaning "heart" and 'folius' meaning "a leaf" in reference to the heart shape of the leaves. We have sold this nice plant since 1998. 

The information about Pelargonium cordifolium displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant.