Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both genera are in the Family Geraniaceae. They are drought and heat tolerant, but can tolerate only minor frosts. Some species are extremely popular garden plants, grown as bedding plants in temperate regions.

Pelargonium ribifolium is a much branched evergreen shrub. It has an erect growth habit, 2 m high and 1 m in diameter. The stems are smooth and herbaceous when young. The base of the stem is woody and thickly covered with glandular green hairs. The aromatic leaves are 3-lobed with toothed margins, numerous glandular hairs, and are hard to the touch. They are often sticky. The flowers, 20 mm in diameter, are white with red markings on the two upper petals. The three anterior petals are also occasionally marked. The currant-leaved pelargonium flowers at irregular intervals throughout the year but has a peak period from September to November. This species can easily be mistaken for Pelargonium scabrum, but the leaves of P. ribifolium are more round, and P. scabrum has pink flowers.