Hear the word geranium, and you may picture those plants native to southern African with their large, often primary colored flowers and strongly scented foliage. To be accurate, those are actually pelargoniums. True geraniums feature delicate, often variegated foliage and flowers in more muted shades of violet, blue, pink and white.
True geraniums, which are also called hardy geraniums, are versatile plants capable of growing in just about any climate. There are varieties of this plant for shade and sun. They make great groundcovers, rock garden plants and grow well in containers and perennial borders.
Now is the time to plant true geraniums, which will flower from early spring into late fall. Keep the following growing tips in mind.
Provide well-drained, fertile soil. Hardy geraniums require a soil that drains well, yet retains nutrients. If you live in an area with heavy clay, amend with compost to increase drainage. For sandy soil, also add compost to bulk it up.
(FreeImages.com/Gillian Townsend)
Keep the soil evenly moist. True geraniums do best when the soil is kept moist, but not soggy. Water the plants on a regular basis in the absence of rainfall. If you live in a climate with hot, dry summers, mulch the soil to seal in moisture and keep the plants from becoming heat stressed.
Provide the proper exposure. Generally, hardy geraniums do best in morning sun and afternoon shade, although there are some varieties, such as G. pratense and G. sanguineum that do well in full sun. For geraniums that thrive in shade, try G. endressii ‘Wargrave Pink’, G. maculatum, G. phaeum and G. nodosum, the latter of which grows in deep shade.
(FreeImages.com/Gillian Townsend)
Prune occasionally. True geraniums are essentially a wildflower that doesn’t require much fuss, but if you find that the plant looks unruly, cut back the foliage by one to two-thirds. This will stimulate new, more compact growth.
Julie Bawden-Davis is a garden writer and master gardener, who since 1985 has written for publications such as Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Wildflower, Better Homes and Gardens and The Los Angeles Times. She is the author of seven books, including Reader’s Digest Flower Gardening, Fairy Gardening, The Strawberry Story Series, and Indoor Gardening the Organic Way, and is the founder of HealthyHouseplants.com.
