The classic geranium plant thrives in beds, border, and containers in showy blooms or a trailing habit.
A classic garden plant, geraniums have been a gardener’s favorite for over a century.
A completely different group of plants hasGeraniumas its genus name.
Credit:Andrew Drake
No matter which geraniums you choose for yourcontainersor flower beds, regular deadheading will keep them blooming beautifully.
And don’t forget to feed them!
Andrew Drake
Where to Plant Geraniums
Geraniums shine in beds and borders.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Traditional bedding types love hot weather and hold up well in dry conditions.
They are also focal flowers in container groupings and standouts in window boxes.
Although most geraniums are grown as annuals, they areperennials in Zones 10-11. you’ve got the option to also plant perennial geraniums in early fall when the weather cools slightly.
Credit: Bill Stites
Choose an area with well-draining soil; geraniums don’t like wet feet.
Use a rake to loosen the soil down 12 inches and add compost.
Give each plant space to grow.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Dig a hole twice as wide as the nursery container.
Water carefully so as not to wash the soil off any of the roots.
Position the plant so the top of the rootball is level with the soil line.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Place the container in a sunny location and out of the wind.
Geranium Care Tips
Light
Most annual geraniums do best ina full-sun location.
Ivy geraniums are an exception; they prefer some light shade.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Soil and Water
Loamy, well-draining soilis best for growing geraniums.
If your soil is heavy, incorporate compost, peat, or perlite into it.
Good drainage is essential.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Wait until the top inch of soil is dry to water the geranium plants.
Watering once or twice a week, depending on the season and weather, is usually sufficient.
This isn’t contagious, and damaged leaves can be removed.
Credit: Justin Hancock
How to Propagate Geraniums
Stem cuttings are the best way to propagate geraniums.
On your cutting, locate another node several inches away from the original cut and cut beneath it.
Ideally, the cutting should be 4 to 6 inches long.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Remove the leaves except for any at the top.
Press the cutting into warm, moist planting medium.
Then, water and place in indirect light.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Within a couple of weeks, the plant will begin sending out roots.
Heres another method to try in fall.
Store geraniums over winter by placing them upside down in a brown paper bag after shaking off excess soil.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Keep the bag closed in a cool, dark place, ensuring it doesnt freeze.
Mist monthly to prevent drying.
In early spring, pot, trim, and water them to encourage new growth.
Credit: Justin Hancock
Types of Geranium
Annual geraniums come in different types: zonal, ivy, and regal.
In some, this “zone” is more pronounced than in others.
Ivy geraniums take heat well but not quite as well as their zonal counterparts.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
If it is exceptionally hot, ivy geraniums will thank you for a little afternoon shade.
Regal geraniums, another popular plant variety, are grown for their large, extremely showy blooms.
Regal types are probably some of the pickiest geraniums.
Credit: Rebecca Sawyer-Fay
They prefer a cooler growing season and will stop blooming in high summer heat.
ensure they have well-drained soil and keep them cool when the steamy temps arrive.
It grows 18 inches tall.
Credit: Justin Hancock
‘Caliente Hot Coral’ Geranium
Pelargonium’Caliente Hot Coral' produces bold coral-pink blooms with exceptional heat tolerance.
It has an upright, mounding habit, and you don’t need todeadhead the flowers.
It grows 12 inches tall.
Credit: Justin Hancock
‘Calliope Dark Red’ Geranium
Pelargonium’Calliope Dark Red' is a hybrid between ivy-leaved and zonal geraniums.
It bears rich, dark red flowers and has a mounding/trailing habit.
It grows 12 inches tall.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It grows 14 inches tall.
It has dark green foliage and grows 14 inches tall.
‘Daredevil Claret’ Geranium
Pelargonium’Daredevil Claret' is a vigorous selection with dark red flowers all summer.
Credit: Denny Schrock
It grows 24 inches tall and 14 inches wide.
It grows 24 inches tall and 14 inches wide.
It grows 12 inches tall.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It grows 12 inches tall.
It grows 12 inches tall.
It produces orange-red flowers and grows 10 inches tall.
Credit: patriot lavender blue geranium
It grows 12 inches tall.
It grows 10 inches tall.
It features bright magenta flowers and finely cut foliage.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It grows 12 inches tall.
‘Patriot Lavender Blue’ Geranium
Pelargonium’Patriot Lavender Blue' is a quick-growing variety with large lavender-pink flowers.
It grows 16 inches tall.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It trails to 14 inches.
It trails to 14 inches.
‘Wilhelm Langguth’ Geranium
Pelargonium’Wilhelm Langguth' shows off attractive white-edged foliage and bright red flowers.
Credit: Justin Hancock
It grows 2 feet tall.
Try the shorter, more colorful types in containers or the front of beds or borders.
The taller, white-only types, which can reach 5 feet, are dramatic in the back of borders.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
These plants do best in full sun and moist, well-drained soil, and they may reseed.
Plant these in night gardens because they’re usually most fragrant at dusk.
Pentas
Pentas is one of thebest butterfly-attracting plantsaround.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
Plant it outdoors after all danger of frost has passed.
Fountaingrass
Like so many grasses,fountaingrass is spectacularwhen backlit by the rising or setting sun.
Named for its graceful spray of foliage, fountaingrass sends out beautiful, fuzzy flower plumes in late summer.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
This plant self-seeds freely, sometimes to the point of becoming invasive.
A plant that blooms only lightly may not be receiving sufficient light; relocating it might help.
If you live in Zone 9 or colder, dig up the plants before the first frost.
Credit: Illustration by Tom Rosborough
Place them in containers or cardboard boxes and bring them inside.
Treat them as houseplants throughout the cold months, locating them near sunny windowsills.
Then, move them back outside after the last frost in spring.
Sprik, Dorothy.Master gardener shares tips on caring for geraniums.University of Minnesota Extension.
