Pelargonium inquinans
Scarlet geranium
(c) Karen Eichholz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Karen Eichholz · licence
Family: Geraniaceae · Type: Subshrub · Not Native
Pelargonium inquinans (Scarlet geranium) is a non-native California subshrub in the Geraniaceae family, recognized by red flowers and large shrub habit vs small-flowered P. grossularioides.
Scarlet geranium is a naturalized shrub found in the San Francisco Bay Area in disturbed sites at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering all year, this plant produces vibrant red flowers approximately 15 to 20 millimeters long with petals of nearly equal size. Growing as a soft-woody subshrub with branched stems reaching 1 to 2 meters tall, it has dense soft hairs along its structure. Its leaves are round, approximately 4 to 8 centimeters wide, deeply notched at the base with 5 to 7 irregularly shaped lobes that have crenate edges and a succulent green appearance. The plant forms open clusters of 5 to 30 flowers with sepals measuring 5 to 7 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are red flowers and large shrub habit vs small-flowered P. grossularioides
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed sites
Elevation: < 300 m
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Pelargonium inquinans blooms All year.
How to tell it apart
vs Geranium: Pelargonium is a shrub with asymmetrical flowers; Geranium is herbaceous with symmetrical flowers.; vs Malva: Pelargonium has asymmetrical flowers with 1-7 stamens; Malva has symmetrical flowers with many stamens fused in a column.; vs Impatiens: Pelargonium has no backward spur on flowers; Impatiens has a prominent curved spur.; vs Kalanchoe: Pelargonium has lobed leaves and spirally-coiled fruit beaks; Kalanchoe has succulent leaves and upright capsules.; vs Oxalis: Pelargonium has lobed leaves and asymmetrical flowers; Oxalis has clover-like compound leaves with symmetrical flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pelargonium inquinans native to California?
No. Pelargonium inquinans is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Pelargonium inquinans bloom?
Pelargonium inquinans blooms All year.
What plant family does Pelargonium inquinans belong to?
Pelargonium inquinans is in the Geraniaceae family, genus Pelargonium.
What habitat does Pelargonium inquinans grow in?
Pelargonium inquinans grows in Disturbed sites.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.