Geranium traversii Plant Care

Geranium traversii Hook.f.

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Geranium traversii, the Chatham Island geranium, is a species of flowering plant in the family Geraniaceae. It is native to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand.

🪴Houseplants🌼Perennials🌻Annuals
Water

Every 7–10 days

Light

Full sun to part shade

Temp

50–80°F

Humidity

40–60%

At a glance

How do you care for Geranium traversii?

Plant Geranium traversii in full sun to part shade (USDA zones 12a) and water a young shrub every 7–10 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F (10–27°C). Fertilize it every 4 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Geranium traversii Native To?

Native range1 country

What Is the Geranium traversii?

Geranium traversii (Geranium traversii) belongs to the Geraniaceae family within the Geranium genus. Geranium traversii is native to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand.

Geranium traversii displays an upright, bushy shrub growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Geranium traversii produces clusters of colorful, five-petaled flowers in various shades.

Leaf size: approximately 3 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Geranium traversii?

Water a young or newly planted Geranium traversii every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Watering Frequency

Every 7–10 days

Until established; then in dry spells

What Light Does the Geranium traversii Need?

Geranium traversii thrives in full sun to part shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to part shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Geranium traversii Prefer?

Geranium traversii tolerates temperatures of 50–80°F. Geranium traversii prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Temperature

50–80°F

Humidity

40–60%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Geranium traversii?

Well-draining soil with a mix of loam, sand, and perlite. Good drainage is essential for Geranium traversii to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Geranium traversii?

Feed Geranium traversii every 4 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

Fertilizing

Every 4 months

During the growing season

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Where Should You Plant a Geranium traversii?

Choose a spot with full sun to part shade and well-draining soil with a mix of loam, sand, and perlite. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Geranium traversii is suited to USDA Zone 12a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

How Far Apart Should You Plant a Geranium traversii?

Geranium traversii can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 2 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

How Do You Prune a Geranium traversii?

Prune Geranium traversii while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

How Do You Care for a Geranium traversii in Winter?

Geranium traversii is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 12). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

How Do You Propagate a Geranium traversii?

Geranium traversii can be propagated through stem cuttings, division, seeds. Similar propagation techniques also apply to spiny geranium plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Geranium traversii Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Geranium traversii, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.

This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

What Pests and Diseases Affect the Geranium traversii?

Geranium traversii is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, whiteflies. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Geranium traversii Need?

Geranium traversii grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Geranium traversii is native to the Chatham Islands of New Zealand. In cooler regions, grow Geranium traversii as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Geranium traversii is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.

It belongs to the Geranium genus — compare its care with other Geranium species on PlantoScan.

Geranium is part of the Geraniaceae plant family — browse all Geraniaceae genera and species.

Geranium traversii thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

More Geranium Species

Other Geranium species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Geranium traversii Hook.f., family Geraniaceae (first published in Handb. N. Zeal. Fl. 2: 726 (1867)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Geranium traversii, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
  • Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
  • Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.

Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.

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