The Madeira geranium (Geranium maderense) is one of the most spectacular and original plants you can grow. Native to the island of Madeira off the Portuguese coast, it stands out for its unique architecture, monumental flowering and a fascinating life cycle unlike anything else in the garden. Discover how to grow, flower and propagate it with advice from our team of passionate specialists.
A unique plant architecture: the prop system
What makes the Madeira geranium truly extraordinary is its architecture. Unlike most plants, it has no trunk in the traditional sense. Instead, its old leaves gradually shift from an upright to a drooping position over time. When the leaves begin to yellow, it is essential to cut only the tip of the leaf and keep the petiole: this petiole will gradually dry out, harden and form natural prop supports that hold the plant upright like stakes.
This ingenious mechanism allows the plant to rise progressively to reach up to 1.50 m in height in all directions, with a flower head that can spread to 1.20 m in width.
The foliage of the Madeira geranium
The foliage of the Madeira geranium is evergreen and finely cut, highly ornamental even outside the flowering period. The leaves, carried on long petioles, are divided into elegant segments that give the plant the appearance of a large fern — a plant worth showcasing in every season.
Flowering: a monumental botanical spectacle
The Madeira geranium flowers in early spring. The flower head is composed of more than 300 small pink flowers, carried on an imposing central flower stem. It is one of the most impressive botanical spectacles you can witness in a garden or on a terrace.
If grown from seed, allow 3 to 4 years of cultivation before the first flowering — a wait that is more than rewarded by the magnificence of the result.
What to do after flowering?
After flowering, the parent plant naturally declines. Here is how to ensure its succession:
- Collect the seeds as soon as they are ripe, before they are naturally projected around the plant.
- Cut the flower head back to mid-height once flowering is complete.
- Significantly reduce watering: new shoots will form at the base of the stem and will regrow vigorously the following spring.
- Once the new shoots are well established, cut the remaining stem above the new plant to allow it to develop freely.
How to grow the Madeira geranium
Exposure
The Madeira geranium adapts well to both partial shade and full sun. It tolerates direct morning light well but appreciates some afternoon shade in the hottest regions. Avoid positions too exposed to strong winds, which can destabilise its prop structure.
Soil and drainage
This plant requires well-drained soil. It is undemanding in terms of fertiliser — a light, porous substrate suits it perfectly. In pots, use a mix of compost and coarse sand or perlite to ensure good water drainage.
Watering
The Madeira geranium is a drought-tolerant plant. Water moderately, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings. Excess moisture is its main enemy, particularly in winter.
Overwintering
Outside regions with very mild climates (Mediterranean or Atlantic coastal areas), the Madeira geranium must be protected from frost. Grow it in a pot so it can be brought into a frost-free, bright and well-ventilated space before the first frosts. It can also overwinter indoors near a large, well-lit window.
Frequently asked questions about the Madeira geranium
Does the Madeira geranium regrow after flowering?
Yes. After flowering, the parent plant declines but new shoots form at the base of the stem. By reducing watering and cutting the stem above the new shoots at the right moment, you ensure the plant's continuity for the following years.
How long before the first flowering?
Grown from seed, the Madeira geranium flowers after 3 to 4 years of cultivation. It is a plant that requires patience, but its flowering — more than 300 pink flowers on a 1.20 m flower head — more than rewards the wait.
Can it be grown indoors?
Yes, and this is one of its great qualities: the Madeira geranium adapts equally well indoors and outdoors. Indoors, place it near a large, very well-lit window. This is also the ideal solution for overwintering it in colder regions.
Does the Madeira geranium self-seed?
Yes. In its natural habitat and in gardens in mild regions, it self-seeds spontaneously around the parent plant by projecting its seeds at a distance. Each seed develops a small radicle that allows it to be carried even further by the wind before taking root — one of its most fascinating characteristics.
Ready to welcome this spectacular plant into your garden or terrace? Discover our Madeira geraniums available to buy, as well as our full rare geraniums and pelargoniums collection.