Actually, your begonia would be a geranium.

Wow, it sure is (as I've now researched some Geraniums). Thanks so much. Some of the begonia I've seen are so nice, too, I believe I'm going to select a few good ones to try.

Actiually its a zonale Pelargonium,Geraniums are usually hardy outdoor plants, with symmetrical flowers,wheras pelargoniums are tender indoor plants or bedding plants.

However, commonly, Pelargoniums are called "Geraniums" and many people refer to them this way to describe the annual. The perennial Genus Geranium is usually referred to as Hardy Geranium.

Confused yet?

Interesting. Geranium is the common phrase when buying pelargonium at the nursery - probably because it is easier to say.

Pelargonium is perennial in its native habitat (South Africa) but in cold climates it needs to be brought indoors before freezing weather but most people treat them as annuals. I have a fancy leaf one that I have had in the original pot for 4 years now. It can take very cool temps - close to freezing but I would not leave it outdoors all winter.

I think the seed head looks similar on both so maybe that is why "geranium" is used for the harder to say and remember "pelargonium"? Are "Martha Washington Geraniums" or "Regal Geraniums" a fancy form of pelargonium?

Also what is an "ivy leaf geranium"?

Martha Washingtons are a fancy type of pelargonium. Beautiful, aren't they?

Also, ivy leaf is a cascading form of perlargonium - flower heads look the same, but leaf is more pointy and stems are vining -less bushy than the other types.

My mom has great success just bringing them in come fall. They look like heck at first, because of the environmental shock, but then they recover and bloom all winter. Conventional wisdom says to cut them off when they come in and again in the spring, as they get leggy in the winter indoors.

Good luck with them. They're practically foolproof and lovely.

-Mo (WV)

I'm late to the party again, but I have to add that pelargoniums are far from fool-proof here--they hate our humid heat--and so are hardy geraniums. The only pelargoniums I've been successful with are the scented leaf kind, which fortunately I love. I've tried a few hardy geraniums that were touted as more heat tolerant, and a couple erodiums, a close relative, too, but they all wimped out about this time of year. I have seen some nice 'geraniums' of the zonal type a few places around town, but they seemed to have just the right situation.

Green Elbows,

It seems like pelargoniums should succeed in heat if kept on the dry side (I'm thinking South Africa). Maybe it's the humidity that is too much. Although, I have seen them thrive in Maine and Northern California which can be quite cool. I thought I saw them thriving in Southern Florida as well but I may be imagining things since there is too much to see when I go to Florida.

Butch