Canary Island Geranium is a striking biennial or short-lived perennial native to the sunny slopes of the Canary Islands and Madeira, prized for its architectural foliage and delicate pink flowers with magenta centers. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall and wide, it produces basal rosettes of deeply lobed dark green leaves that remain attractive throughout the growing season, with five-petaled blooms rising well above the foliage in May and June. Hardy in zones 8 to 10, this drought-tolerant species thrives in full sun to partial shade and handles Mediterranean-type climates with ease, making it a low-maintenance addition to gardens that don't demand fussy care.
18
Partial Sun
Moderate
8-10
36in H x 36in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The real draw here is the contrast between architectural foliage and airy blooms. Those deeply dissected dark green leaves form a lush mound that looks good from spring through fall, then pale-pink flowers with striking magenta eyes emerge on tall stems in late spring, creating a cloud-like effect above the foliage. Once established, this plant asks very little of you: it tolerates drought, shrugs off deer, and rarely needs pruning or fussing. In the right climate, it will self-seed and return year after year, gradually naturalizing into the landscape.
Canary Island Geranium is grown primarily for ornamental purposes, particularly for naturalizing in Mediterranean-style gardens and rocky slopes where its drought tolerance and self-seeding habit allow it to establish without intensive intervention. Its showy pale-pink blooms and attractive foliage make it well-suited to perennial borders, cottage gardens, and any landscape where you want a plant that will return reliably with minimal fussing.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Canary Island Geranium does not require cutting back, shearing, or other post-flowering trimming. Allow the plant to grow naturally and remove flowering stems only if desired for tidiness, though this is not necessary for plant health.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Geranium palmatum hails from the Canary Islands and Madeira, where it evolved in rocky, sun-exposed terrain. The genus name comes from the Greek word geranos, meaning crane, a reference to the fruit shape that resembles a crane's beak. This species represents a wild relative of the familiar zonal geraniums (Pelargonium) that most gardeners know, but it's a true geranium rather than a pelargonium, and it carries the hardiness and vigor of its island home into cultivation. It arrived in European gardens as exploration expanded plant collections, and today it remains a favorite among gardeners seeking hardy, Mediterranean-adapted plants.”