The genus name Pelargonium is derived from the Greek word pelargos, meaning ‘a stork’, because the fruit resembles the shape of the beak of a stork. The species name multiradiatum, meaning ‘many rays’ refers to the radiating, many-flowered inflorescences.

The genus Pelargonium belongs the Geraniaceae, a family consisting of more than 800 species and 11 genera. Pelargonium can be found in subtropical and tropical regions such as New Zealand, Madagascar, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and the continents of Asia, Australia and Africa. Southern Africa is widely acknowledged as the official hotspot for the genus where about 219 of the 270 species can be found. In 1823 Sweet proposed that a new genus be created in order to accommodate certain species. This resulted in it being placed in De Candolle’s new genus Polyactium. Today Polyactium is recognized as a section of the genus Pelargonium.

Pelargonium multiradiatum was amongst those species of Pelargonium published in Harvey’s Flora Capensis Vol. 1 in 1860. Despite its botanical description in 1809, its exact habitat at the time was not known. Its inclusion in the publication was merely because it was successfully cultivated in Europe. The original description was therefore based on cultivated material. Initially thought to be long lost and having its status as a natural species being questioned by well-known Pelargonium botanist, Knuth (in 1912), Salter rediscovered the species on the lower slopes of the Karbonkelberg on the Cape Peninsula in the 1930s. This was followed by a comprehensive description of the species in 1940.

Pelargonium multiradiatum is one of 7 species that make up the Pelargonium section Polyactium. The other 6 are: P. triste, P. anethifolium, P. pulverulentum, P. radulifolium, P. pillansii and P. lobatum. The section Polyactium, which resembles a star, refers to the many-flowered inflorescences of the species, which share some of the following characteristics: the presence of pale-mustard petals, dusk-scented flowers that are almost regular and a well-developed subterranean tuber. With the exception of P. pulverulentum, all other species are exclusively confined to the winter rainfall-region.