The name Pelargonium is derived from the Greek word pelargos, meaning ‘stork’ because the rostrum of the schizocarp in Pelargonium is thought to resemble the bill of a stork. This explains the common name, stork’s bill. The specific epithet hirtum, means ‘hairy’ and is in reference of the long hairs found on the plant.

Pelargonium is one of 5 southern African genera in the family Geraniaceae. This family, also known as the pelargonium family, is cosmopolitan, but predominantly confined to temperate and subtropical regions. Pelargonium can be found in S, E and NE Africa, Australia, New Zealand, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha, Madagascar and Asia. Southern Africa, home to more than 80% species, is the global hotspot of Pelargonium. The highest diversity amongst members of this family is found in the Namaqualand-region, and the western and southern Cape of South Africa. There are approximately 250 species of Pelargonium in southern Africa. The other southern African genera in Geraniaceae include: Erodium, Geranium, Monsonia and Sarcocaulon.

Two genera, Pelargonium and Geranium, are popular garden ornamentals with high commercial value. Although the 2 genera cannot be easily confused with one another, in several overseas countries there is persistence in referring to species of Pelargonium as Geranium, or commonly as geranium. In some circles, these ‘geraniums’ are classified as artificial hybrids of the genus Pelargonium that became enhanced through breeding methods. This vernacular use of the name was probably also brought about by the ever to-and-fro changing of genus names of a species in the past. From a taxonomic perspective, Geranium is derived from the Greek word geranos, which means ‘crane’. This is in reference to the rostrum of the schizocarp which resembles the bill of a crane. Crane’s bill is a common name for Geranium.

The flowers of Pelargonium are zygomorphic or irregular and means the flowers can be divided into identical halves in one plane only. Geraniums are actinomorphic or regular as it is possible to bisect the flowers into halves in more than one vertical plane.

Burman originally described this species as Geranium hirtum in 1759. Malcolm introduced the species to England in 1768. L’Heritier changed the name to Pelargonium tenuifolium in 1789. Jacquin renamed the species P. hirtum in 1792.

The Irish botanist William Henry Harvey (1811–1866) and German botanist Reinhard Knuth (1874–1957), developed and divided the genus Pelargonium into 15 sections. A set of keys was also submitted to ensure the identification of the section and species. Pelargonium hirtum is found in the section Ligularia, which consist of 23 species. The species found in this section have fairly strong branches, subsucculent stems, which may be woody at the base. The leaves are seldom entire, but rather pinnately divided. The petals are subequal and spathulate with a tapering base. Seven fertile stamens can be found. Other species found in this section include: P. abrotanifolium, P. crassipes, P. pulchellum and P. fragile.