Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden' Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden' (Z/v)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

'Dolly Varden' grows to 40cm in height, with rounded leaves heavily variegated with creamy-white and deep red, and clusters of single scarlet flowers

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Geraniaceae.
- Synonyms
  Dolly Varden Geranium, Fancy Leaf Geranium, Zonal Geranium.
- Common names
  Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden'
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Variegated
- Flower color
  Mixed
- Height
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  10
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden' offers vibrant foliage that can add color and visual interest to gardens and indoor spaces.
- Easy Maintenance: It is known for being a low-maintenance plant that doesn't require extensive care, making it suitable for beginners.
- Drought Tolerance: This plant is relatively drought-tolerant, requiring less frequent watering than some other garden plants.
- Attracts Pollinators: It can attract bees and butterflies, which are beneficial for pollination in the garden.
- Versatility in Landscaping: Its compact size and colorful leaves make it versatile for various landscaping uses, including borders, containers, and as a bedding plant.
- Long Blooming Season: Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden' typically has a long blooming season, providing flowers for an extended period.
- Scented Foliage: The leaves of some Pelargonium species are scented, which can add a pleasant fragrance to the area where they are planted.
- Deer Resistance: This plant is often resistant to deer, which can be particularly beneficial in areas where deer predation is a problem.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Craft Projects: The vibrant leaves and flowers of the geranium can be pressed and used in crafting projects such as making bookmarks or in scrapbooking to add natural beauty and a burst of color.
- Natural Dye: The petals of the geranium can be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, offering hues ranging from soft pinks to rich oranges and reds, depending on the color of the petals used.
- Aromatherapy: Geranium leaves and flowers can be infused in oil to capture their fragrance, which can then be used in homemade aromatherapy products like candles or bath bombs.
- Potpourri: Dried geranium flowers and leaves can be included in potpourri mixes to add a pleasant fragrance to your home.
- Flavoring: The leaves of scented geranium varieties can be used to subtly flavor sugars, teas, desserts, or jellies with their unique aromatic properties.
- Educational Tool: Geraniums can be used in educational settings such as schools or workshops to teach about plant care, propagation, or the process of photosynthesis.
- Floating Decorations: The flowers of the geranium can be floated in bowls of water to create simple, elegant table decorations for events or just to brighten up a room.
- Drawer Sachets: Dry the leaves and place them in cloth sachets to keep linens and clothing smelling fresh.
- Natural Insect Deterrent: Though not a primary use, some geraniums have been said to help repel certain insects when planted in and around the home.
- Photography: With their attractive colors and shapes, geraniums can be used as subjects in botanical photography or as a natural backdrop for portrait photography.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Geranium is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Geranium is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Comfort in Solitude - Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden' often thrives in containers, symbolizing the ability to grow and flourish as an individual even in limited spaces.
- Healing - With its fragrant leaves, the geranium is commonly used in essential oils and aromatherapy, representing healing and the restoration of emotional balance.
- Protection - Geraniums have traditionally been planted in gardens or by entrances to ward off negative influences, symbolizing safeguarding and protective energies.
- Friendship - The geranium is sometimes given as a gift between friends, symbolizing close bonds and a wish for the recipient's happiness and well-being.
- Hidden Sentiment - The ornate pattern of Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden' might represent things that are not immediately apparent on the surface, similar to concealed emotions or meanings.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden', commonly known as Fancy-Leaf Geranium, it's essential to water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which typically means once a week. However, during hotter seasons or in a dry climate, you might need to water it more often. The best method is to water deeply, allowing moisture to reach the roots, using about one gallon of water per watering session for an average-sized plant. Ensure the pot has good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which could damage the plant. During winter, water less frequently, letting the soil dry out more between waterings.
Light
Fancy-Leaf Geraniums need bright, indirect light to thrive, making a spot near an east or west-facing window ideal. Direct afternoon sunlight can be too intense and may cause leaf scorch, so if you have a south-facing window, use a sheer curtain to diffuse the light. If grown outdoors, they should be in a place that receives morning sun and partial afternoon shade.
Temperature
Fancy-Leaf Geraniums prefer a temperature range between 55°F and 70°F. They can survive a minimum temperature of around 40°F but should be protected from frost. The ideal growing conditions for these plants are daytime temperatures around 65°F to 70°F and slightly cooler at night, but not below 55°F.
Pruning
Prune Fancy-Leaf Geraniums to promote bushy growth and prevent legginess, ideally after blooming or in early spring. Remove any dead or yellow leaves and spent blooms to encourage new growth and more flowers. Cut back overgrown stems to about one-third of their length to keep the plant compact. Pruning two to three times a year is usually sufficient for maintaining an attractive shape.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Geranium 'Dolly Varden' thrives in a well-draining potting mix with equal parts of peat, perlite, and loam. The ideal soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Geranium 'Dolly Varden' should be repotted every 1-2 years or when it has outgrown its current container, usually in spring before new growth begins.
Humidity & Misting
Geranium 'Dolly Varden' prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable and can tolerate the lower humidity levels common in home environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright light, avoid overwatering.
- Outdoor
  Full sun to partial shade; protect from frost.
- Hardiness zone
  10-11 USDA
Life cycle
The Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden', commonly known as a type of Geranium, begins its life cycle as a seed, which upon germination in warm, moist soil, develops into a seedling. The seedling stage is followed by vegetative growth, where the plant develops its distinctive foliage and stems, becoming a mature plant capable of flowering. The flowering stage occurs when the plant produces clusters of colorful flowers, usually in warmer months, which in turn can lead to pollination and seed production if the flowers are fertilized. After pollination, seeds develop and are eventually dispersed from the parent plant, completing the cycle. Alongside sexual reproduction, 'Dolly Varden' can also be propagated asexually by cuttings, which root to form new plants. Throughout the growing season, regular pruning is essential for maintaining plant health and encouraging further blooming.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating the Pelargonium 'Dolly Varden', commonly known as geranium, is through stem cuttings. This is ideally done in late winter to early spring. Choose a healthy, non-flowering stem and cut a length of about 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15 centimeters) just below a leaf node, using a sharp knife or scissors. Remove the bottom leaves to expose a few leaf nodes, as these areas are where the roots will develop. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder to encourage root growth. Plant the cutting in a pot filled with a well-draining soil mix, ensuring that at least two leaf nodes are buried. Water the cutting and place it in a warm, bright spot out of direct sunlight until new growth indicates that rooting has occurred.