Horticultural symbols and terms
Z.ZONAL PELARGONIUM P.zonale
Those plants sometimes known as “Storksbill”, “Fish or Horseshoe” Geraniums. Further descriptive terms used within Zonal Pelargonium include:
- Hybrid ZonalThose plants having one parent a Zonal and one a species or species derived plant. Dwarf Those plants naturally smaller than a Zonal Pelargonium, which at maturity do not exceed 200mm. in height when grown in an 11cm pot.
- MiniatureThose plants naturally smaller and slower growing, which at maturity do not exceed 125mm in height when grown in a 9cm pot.
- Micro-miniatureThose plants naturally smaller and slower growing than the Miniature, which at maturity do not exceed 75mm in height when grown in a maximum size pot of 6cm.
- Fancy LeavedThose plants having leaves showing marked variations of colour, together with, or other than, green as their normal growth habit.
- Five-fingered
“The Staphs”
and “Stellars” Those plants having distinctive flowers and leaves, creating an impression of being either star-shaped or Five-fingered. Variously known as “The Five-fingered Geraniums”, Staphysagroides”, “Both’s Staphs”, and “Both’s Hybrid Staphs”. Included are those plants having similar distinctive flowers and foliage, which have been variously known as “Fingered Flowers” and “Bodey’s Formosum Hybrids”. - RosebudThose plants having flowers that resemble the bud of a rose, being fully double and hearted, the middle petals remaining unopened.
- Bird’s EggThose plants having flowers the petals of which are spotted like a bird’s egg.
- QuilledThose plants having flowers the petals of which are twisted into a quill. Some times known as “Cactus” or “Poinsettia”.
I.IVY LEAF PELARGONIUM P.peltatum
Those plants commonly known as “Ivy Geraniums”. Further descriptive terms used within the Ivy LeafPelargonium group include:
- Hybrid IvyThose plants resulting from an Ivy X Zonal parentage and which favour clearly the IvyLeaf Pelargonium characteristics.
- Fancy LeafThose plants having leaves showing marked variations of colour, together with, or other than, green as their normal growth habit.
- MiniatureThose plants naturally miniature in leaf and flowers form, stems short-noded and growth compact. Examples: ‘Gay Baby’, and ‘Sugar Baby’
R.REGAL PELARGONIUM P.grandiflorum
Those plants commonly known as “Regals”, “Martha or Lay Washingtons”, “Show Pelargoniums” and “Pelargoniums”.Further descriptive terms used within the Regal Pelargonium group include:
- Fancy LeafThose plants having leaves showing marked variations in colour together with, or other than, green as their normal growth habit.
- Decorative
Pelargonium or
‘Decoratives’ Those plants having smaller flowers than the Regal, but retaining in respect of growth and habit, as a Regal. Example: ‘Royal Ascot’ . - MiniatureThose plants having flowers and leaves similar to the normal Regal, but being miniature in form and with compact growth. Sometimes known as “Pansy Geraniums”or “Pansy Pelargoniums”. Examples: ‘Lara Susan’ and ‘Baby Snooks’.
Sppd.SPECIES DERIVED
Those plants showing close relationship to the species from which they have been derived and which donot fit clearly into any of the above classifications Included are:
- Angel PelargoniumThose plants which, whilst having some similarity to the Regal Pelargonium are more closely associated with the species P.crispum, which they resemble in leaf shape and growth habit. Historically these were often described as the ‘Langley-Smith Hybrids’.
- Unique PelargoniumThose plants, the parentage of which seems confused and obscure. Some authorssuggest the influence of P.fulgidum, others a relationship to an early cultivar known as ‘Old Unique’ or ‘Rollinson’s Crimson’. Generally speaking they show similarity to the upright growing Scented Leaf Pelargoniums, being shrubby and woody. All have a distinctive scented leaf, and flowers that are small, with blotched and feathered petals.
- Scented Leaf
Pelargonium Those plants which have scented leaves and various types of growth habit, all having less prominent flowers forms than other cultivars, often similar to the species from which many are derived. - “Zonquil” PelargoniumThose plants resulting from the crossing of Zonal Pelargonium cultivars withP.quinquelobatum.