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Common Name: Sorrel-Leaved Pelargonium

General Information

Pelargonium acetosum is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. Africa - E. Cape.

Habitat

Dry cliffs and rocky slopes[]. Stony hillsides and dry grassland[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a light well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in a sunny position[, ]. Plants require dry conditions, especially in the winter[].
Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they generally require greenhouse protection but might succeed outdoors when grown in a very sheltered warm spot in the mildest parts of the country[]. They can also be grown in containers that are placed outdoors in the summer and then brought into the greenhouse or conservatory for the winter[]. The plants need to be kept fairly dry in the winter[].
Very tolerant of pruning, they can be cut right down to the base in the autumn when bringing them back indoors, or in the spring to encourage lots of fresh growth[].

Edible Uses

Buds and young leaves - raw or cooked[]. An acid sorrel-like flavour, they are added to salads or used in soups, stews etc[].

Medicinal

All parts of the plant are astringent[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Stored seed should be sown in early spring in a greenhouse. The seed germinates best with a minimum temperature of 13°c, germination usually taking place within 2 weeks though it sometimes takes some months[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. If trying them outdoors, plant them out in early summer and consider giving them extra protection during the winter.
Cuttings are very easy and succeed at almost any time in the growing season, although early summer is the best time in order for the new plant to become established before winter[, ]. Cuttings usually root within 3 weeks[].