Perennial geranium is a darling plant with attractive foliage and bright flowers.
Its many varieties work wonderfully as groundcovers and borders.
Some have eye-catching patterns and veins, or a spicy scent, andattract pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
Credit:Justin Hancock
Dont confuse the perennial geranium with theannual geraniumtheyre different plants!
Perennial geraniums belong to the genusGeranium, while annual geraniums are in the genusPelargonium.
Perennial geranium offers a variety of colors to choose from in foliage and flowers.
Credit: Jeff McNamara
Perennial geranium may be a small plant, but its showstopping appearance elevates any garden.
it’s possible for you to plant it asgroundcover, in aborder garden,or in acontainer.
Although its unsuitable as a houseplant, perennial geranium flourishes when grown in pots outside.
Credit: David Speer
Perennial Geranium Care Tips
Perennial geranium is a hardy plant that requires little attention.
It grows quickly, blooms for many months, and adds delicate beauty to any garden setting.
Light
Perennial geranium grows happily infull sun to part shade.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Many varieties also do fine in more shade but may produce fewer flowers due to limited sun exposure.
When planting in clay, amending the soil with compost helps perennial geranium develop more quickly.
Temperature and Humidity
Perennial geranium tolerates humidity,cold climates, and excessive heat with ease.
Credit: Nancy Rotenberg
Doing so allows perennial geranium to flourish magnificently.
Fertilizer
Unless the soil is poor, perennial geranium doesnt usually require fertilizer.
A 2-inch layer of compost is an acceptable alternative to a purchased product.
Credit: Peter Symcox
Pruning
After its done blooming, perennial geranium benefits from being sheared back ordeadheaded.
This encourages a new flush of growth and prevents a messy appearance.
It may also result in a smattering of rebloom in some species.
Credit: Nancy Rotenberg
Potting and Repotting
Perennial geraniums are easy to grow in containers.
A 12-inch container is deep enough, but it must provide excellent drainage.
Fill the new pot with fresh potting mix and remove the plant from the old container.
Credit: Clint Farlinger
Water well to settle the plant.
Pests and Problems
The only problem that you might see with perennial geranium is powdery mildew.
This fungus grows on the leaves and looks like a fine, white powder.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Powdery mildew is relatively harmless but can slow the plants growth and look unsightly.
Keep the leaves as dry as possible and avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew from spreading.
Additionally, clean up any leaf debris around plants after they die back in the fall.
Credit: Peter Symcox
If you collect or buy seeds, be prepared to wait a few years for blooms.
Types of Perennial Geranium
Perennial geranium is an extremely tough and adaptable plant with many marvelous varieties.
Bloody Geranium
Geranium sanguineumBloody produces 1-foot-tall mounds of foliage that turn golden in fall.
Credit: Karlis Grants
Vibrant magenta flowers cover the plant in late spring.
Bloody geranium tolerates hot weather well and thrives in Zones 3-8.
Bigroot Geranium
Geranium macrorrhizumBigroot makes a fine ground cover and tolerates dry conditions and light shade.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
The aromatic 6-inch-wide leaves are splendidly colored during fall, and bright magenta flowers bloom in spring.
Bigroot geranium does well in Zones 4-8.
Madeira Geranium
Geranium maderense,crowned with 4-inch-wide flowers, is a showstopper.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Its massive leaves are just as spectacular as its vivid, showy blooms.
Zones 9-11 are ideal for growing Madeira geranium.
Johnsons Blue Geranium
GeraniumJohnsons Blue is a long-blooming variety with 2-inch, bright blue flowers.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
It grows to 18 inches tall and thrives in Zones 4-8.
Ann Folkard Geranium
GeraniumAnn Folkard has yellowish-green foliage on 2-foot-long scrambling stems that weave among other plants.
This perennial geranium variety blooms bright magenta flowers punctuated with black veins and eyes from midsummer into fall.
Ann Folkard geranium is well-suited in Zones 5-9.
This throw in of perennial geranium does well in Zones 5-7.
In spring, the dainty plant is covered with blush-colored flowers striped with darker pink veins.
Zones 3-8 are ideal for growing Striped Bloody geranium.
Plant this variety of perennial geranium in Zones 5-9.
Mourning Widow Geranium
Geranium phaeumbears nodding dark purple blooms in late spring over attractive hand-shape foliage.
Mourning Widow flourishes in Zones 4-8.
Perennial Geranium Companion Plants
Astilbe
Astilbebrings a graceful feathery note to moist, shady landscapes.
In drier regions, however, the leaves scorch in full sun.
Astilbe spreads slowly over time when well-situated.
Most commercially available types are complex hybrids.
Daylily
Daylilyis so easy to grow that youll often find the flowering plant in ditches and fields.
It has a magnificent appearance, producing fabulous trumpet-shaped blooms in myriad colors.
Some are fragrant, and all have flowers borne on leafless stems.
Daylilys strappy foliage may be evergreen or deciduous.
All iris varieties have classic, impossibly intricate flowers.
The falls may be bearded or not.
Some cultivars bloom a second time in late summer.
Some species prefer alkaline soil, while others prefer acidic soil.
Veronica
Easy and undemanding,Veronicais eye-catching in sunny gardens for many months.
Regular deadheading extends bloom time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Over time, perennial geranium plants will spread and form clumps.
Deadheading the plant wont extend the blooming season, but it will improve its overall appearance.
Deadheading the small blooms from the short plants can be tedious, though.
Geranium L. The World Flora Online.
Hardy Cranesbill Geranium Care and Growing Tips.Birds & Blooms.
