Put your hands together for this prolifically flowering joyful groundcover; introducing Pelargonium ‘Applause’. This is a between the Australian species Pelargonium australe and P. rodneyanum developed by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery. I have found this native geranium to flower from Spring through to Autumn with a height of its bloom in Summer.

I am growing Pelargonium ‘Applause’ in an under storey planting in the part shade of my large Ironbark. It is doing a wonderful job of rambling around with some other native insect attracting natives, like Actinotus helianthii, Bracteanths species and Plectranthus graveolens.

This mixed native cottage style planting is part of an experiment to attract native pollinators and I am happy to report that I have often spotted Blue banded Bees on this Pelargonium.

Pelargonium’Applause’ is an attractive low shrub or groound cover with pink flowers over a long period, it is extremly easy to grow like one of its parents P australe. However, unlike australe it doesn’t self seed everywhere!

It can be pruned back to ground level after flowering as it has tuberous roots, so in spring fresh new growth will appear. As well as native bees Pelargoniums are also great for attracting Butterflies to your garden.

As you can see in these images, mine is planted in part shade, Pelargonium ‘Applause’ will also take full sun but I can’t imagine mine flowering any more prolifically than it already is.

I also have some Poa and Themeda planted in amongst the flowering natives, giving the planting a native grassland/wild garden look.