Low growing shrublet, often abundant on low hillsides near the sea. Stems and leaves are sweetly scented when bruised. Crinkly leaves are velvety soft in texture, have a cordate base and are shallowly to deeply 3-6-lobed; compact heads of up to 20 flowers are borne on short hairy stalks; flowers pale to dark-pink with beetroot-purple stripes on 2 upper, slightly larger petals.

Seeds of pelargonium are elliptic in shape; attached to the seed is a feathered tail-like structure that is coiled in a spiral; the tail allows the seed to drill and secure itself into the soil if twisted around by the wind.

This species is cultivated for 'oil of geranium' used in the perfume industry. It was first cultivated in Britain in 1690.