CyberSalad: Garden Pursuits: Annuals: Pelargonium

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Pelargonium

     It has been said that geraniums, natives of South Africa, are known and loved by more people than any other flower in the world. Wherever there is a garden, chances are there is a geranium; they will grow almost anywhere with minimum care. Colors range from white, subtle pinks and brilliant reds to purplish black. In Zones 9-10, geraniums grow outdoors from year to year with little attention and become shrubby plants 4 to 5 feet tall, but in frost zones they are treated as small, delicate annuals. Lady Washington geraniums grow about 1 to 2 feet tall--except in Zones 9-10, where they may reach 3 feet--and have huge clusters of 2- to 4-inch single and double blossoms sometimes blotched with a darker shade on the two upper petals. Ivy and common geraniums produce single or double flowers. The ivy, so called for its ivy-shaped leaves and trailing growth, has graceful stems that extend sideways up to 4 feet. Common or zonal geraniums, the most popular species, grow about 1 to 2 feet tall--except in Zones 9-10, where they may reach 6 feet. Zonal geraniums are named for the concentric markings on their leaves. The many species of scented geraniums have a variety of fragrances: rose, lemon, peppermint, apple, nutmeg, and others. The perfumes emanate from the leaves, not the flowers.
     Ivy and common geraniums make superb bed, border, and pot plants because they bloom throughtout the garden season, The trailing stems of ivy geranium make it particularly effective in window boxes and hanging baskets or as a flowering ground cover. The Lady Washington is a less successful summer-flowering plant in many sections of the country since it needs temperatures beloc 60 degrees F. to bud. It is usually grown by florists as a flowering pot plant for Mother's Day and Memorial Day. Most geraniums thrive in climates with dry summers, warm days and cool nights. They do best in full sun but grow well in partial shade if they have sun at least half of each day. The soil should be well drained and only medium rich.
     Home gardeners usually buy geraniums as budded or flowering pot-grown plants ready to set in the garden. Most plants are raised from cuttings, since comman geraniums take five months to flower from seed. To start plants from seed, sow seeds indoors eight to ten weeks before the last frost is due. Young seedlings should be transplanted into 2-inch pots when the first true leaves appear and shifted to 4-inch pots as they become larger. Keep the pots on a sunny window sill. The seeds germinate unevenly over a period of three to eight weeks. Transfer them to the garden outdoors after the danger of frost is past, setting them about a foot apart. When growing ivy geraniums in garden beds, place the plants 12 to 18 inches apart and pin the stems down with bent pieces of wire to train them to grow close to the ground.

	Ivy Leafed Geraniums, ivy-shaped leaves and trailing growth, has graceful stems that extend sideways up to 4 feet.
	Scented Geraniums, a variety of fragrances; the perfumes emanate from the leaves, not the flowers.
	Zonal Geraniums, named for the concentric markings on their leaves.
	Regal Geraniums, named for their elegant foliage and blooms.

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Site launched January 1, 2000.
Site updated September 1, 2007.