Aromatic subshrub to c. 1 m high; stems almost succulent when young, densely clothed in short, soft hairs, sessile glands abundant. Leaves opposite or branch-opposed; lamina orbicular to reinform with cordate base, 3–7.5 cm long, 4–10 cm diam., velvety, often with a dark ring around the middle above; margin crenate; petiole 3–9 cm long. Umbels 10–50-flowered; peduncle to c. 30 cm long; pedicels to 8 mm long; sepals narrow- or oblong-elliptic, 4–10 mm long, obtuse, acute or apiculate, villous; sepal spur 5–35 mm long; petals broad-obovate, 10–15 mm long, usually red, sometimes white or pink. Fertile stamens 7. Mericarps more or less hispid.
VVP, GipP, OtP, CVU, HSF. Of cultivated origin. A garden escape naturalised on coastal dunes on Phillip Island near Cowes and roadsides in metropolitan Melbourne.
The South African species Pelargonium inquinans and Pelargonium zonale are likely parents of this hybrid (James et al. 2004).
