They are named for their thick, glossy green leaves, which are similar to those of an ivy plant. Keep 'Espresso' geraniums mulched, but don't mulch the crowns of the plants, which can cause rot.Â, Geranium pratense 'Summer Skies' is the antidote to the ordinary bloody cranesbill plant that some gardeners find a bit on the weedy side. You can start zonal geraniums from seed, cuttings, or transplants. Although they are often called geraniums, the familiar annual flowers with red, pink, purple, or white blooms and thick, pleated leaves are not geraniums at all, but rather members of the Pelargonium genus. Geranium Care Must-Knows. Place the plants in a very bright location or under grow lights and water them daily. Alyssum. Lavender flowers bloom in May and June. Pests generally pass over hardy geraniums—no chemical sprays are needed. Scientific name: Pelargonium × domesticum. However,'Plenum' geraniums are sterile, so they stay where you put them. Bedding Geraniums are great container plants. If you do fall in love with their double violet flowers and tolerance of many growing conditions, you can propagate them by division in the spring.Â, In contrast to the many sprawling hardy geraniums available, 'Stephanie' produces a very compact plant that perks up the late spring border. The four most common types of geraniums are ivy-leaf, scented-leaf, regal/angel, and the zonal varieties. Keep the plant well watered but not soggy, and feed it weekly with a weak houseplant fertilizer solution. This group is noted for their large, ruffled flowers in white, pink, red, purple, yellow, burgundy, and bicolors. Native Area: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to the Himalayas, The magenta blossoms of 'Elsbeth' geraniums pop against healthy green foliage at the front of the border. When the seedlings sprout, begin removing the dome for short periods each day to allow moisture to escape and to prevent damping-off fungus. Feed the seedlings weekly with a very weak houseplant food dilution. Make sure to water slowly at soil level and avoid splashing soil onto the leaves. When grown in containers, the plants need to be fed more often than when grown as bedding plants. Webs or parched leaves are signs of spider mites. Vigoro 1 Gal. Annual geraniums prefer rich but well-drained soil that is slightly acidic—5.8 to 6.5. These fungal problems can be combatted by pruning the plant to improve air circulation or using copper-soap fungicides. The old-fashioned standard for beds, ... Color Combinations. “Geranium… Cutting back the plants often results in a second flush of flowers in the late summer or early fall. Fill a planting tray with moistened seed-starting mix and sow the seeds over the surface. I didn't know geraniums came in perennial varieties, so thank you. Plant beside a silvery artemisia for a contrasting cloud of beauty.  'Ann Folkard' is a hybrid cross between  G. procurrens and G. psilostemon. Insecticidal soap, then a water rinse applied after the soap has dried, is an effective treatment for these pests. In the fall, some of the varieties will turn soothing shades of rust and crimson. Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are one of the next most-commonly seen types of geraniums. In climates with cold winters, bedding plants should be pulled up and discarded as soon as frost kills them. Finally, they can also be grown as a houseplant. You can grow them as houseplants in a window with bright, direct light. Stressing the plants slightly by watering only after the soil has been sitting completely dry for a day or two seems to encourage more profuse blooming. Are geraniums annual or perennial? The blue flowers with deep purple veins are very showy when paired with white flowers like sweet alyssum or phlox. Discovered at the Royal Botanical Garden in Scotland, this plant may be a cross between Geranium peloponnesiacum and G. renardii.Â, In addition to its unusual name, this geranium stands apart from others due to its aromatic leaves, which release fragrant oils when crushed. Assorted Mix. Add a thin dusting of additional seed-starting mix over the tops of the seeds. Variegated Geraniums Prized as much for their brightly colored leaves as they are for their colorful flowers, variegated geraniums look great in containers by themselves or mixed with other annual bloomers. Even better is the fact that learning how to keep geraniums over winter is easy. 'Ann Folkard' geraniums spread generously in the garden, weaving bright green foliage and purple flowers with neighboring plants to fill in all gaps in the summer border. Keep the pot moist and place it in a bright location out of direct sunlight as roots become well established. Spreading mounds of sharply cut leaves produce sky-blue flowers from spring through midsummer. White Geranium Annual Plant. I will find out in May if the ones I planted last year will come back. Give them a sunny spot with soil that is rich but well-drained. Leaves emerge with a variegated pattern but eventually settle into a green tone in the summer.Â. Annual geranium colors Way back when, the most common colors of zonal geraniums were white, pink and red. Plant them alongside ornamental grasses or baby's breath for a breezy garden effect.Â, Native Area: Nursery hybrid; parent species are native to the Pyrenees and Southwest Asia, A dwarf cranesbill such as 'Carol' breathes life into crevices and other difficult to plant pockets in the garden in late spring and summer with wine-colored flowers and grayish-green foliage. These are warm-region plants that dislike cold temperatures. This … This plant requires very little care and is virtually free of pest and disease problems. Annual geraniums are normally planted from potted seedlings. Hardy geraniums, often known by the common name "cranesbill," are the plants that truly own the Geranium genus name. It is recommended that you deadhead the entire flower stalk after the flower fades to encourage more blooms.