The story of the night-scented Pelargonium started back in England in 1632 as one of the first pelargoniums to be collected from the Cape and cultivated by an English horticulturist for his collection.
Before being called Pelargonium triste, it was formally known as Geranium Indicum Nocto Odoratum meaning 'Night scented Indian Geranium'.
In Latin, triste translates to dull-coloured, referring to the dull colour of the flowers. Despite their uninspiring name, they are no boring wall-flower!