The genus Pelargonium, is derived from the Greek word pelargos meaning ‘stork’, because the fruit resembles the shape of the beak of a stork. The specific epithet lobatum is derived from Latin, meaning ‘lobed’ and refers to the lobed leaves.

The genus Pelargonium belongs to the Geraniaceae, a family of 11 genera and 800 species in the subtropical and tropical world. Other well-known genera include: Monsonia, Geranium and Sarcocaulon. Pelargonium occurs in S, E and NE Africa, Australia, New Zealand, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Madagascar and Asia. Southern Africa is the hotspot of Pelargonium species diversity, and in the entire region, about 219 of the 270 species are found.

This group of plants has been an attraction to collectors and travelers since the years of exploration in the 1600 and 1700s around the coast of the African continent. Plants were taken to Europe early in the 17th century, where it became established in some of the gardens. Amongst the first species to arrive in England was Pelargonium triste. The Dutch botanist Hermann, collected P. cucculatum on Table Mountain in 1672 and in 1690 this species was established at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London. In Leyden, the Netherlands, ten species were already on record in 1687.

Records indicate that P. lobatum was cultivated as early as 1739 at the Chelsea Physic Garden (England). The species was originally described in 1759 by Burman (filius) as Geranium lobatum in Specimen botanicum de Geraniis (44) in Leiden.