'Geranium' newbie question, sorry

15 years ago

Up until a few weeks ago I didn't know that there was such a thing as a "Pelargonium." My mother buys "geraniums" every year and plants them in her beds that receive full to part sun. I gather based on my research so far that these are actually something like "Pelorgonium Hortorum." She buys them at the big box stores every year and they are incredibly boring.

I've decided to try to find her some more interesting varieties this year and based on my research here and at Garden Watchdog I took at look at geraniaceae.com. My first question would be: Is this still a reputable vendor? I see good things everywhere I look but most of the info I found on them here is from a few years ago.

My mother often buys "Martha Washingtons" every year around this time and keeps them inside as house plants. I gather that this is also an unscientific and unspecific name. She doesn't like to plant these outdoors since, according to her, they don't handle the heat. I believe these might be "Pelargonium Domesticum"? They are also sometimes called "Regals." I don't see either of these categories listed at Geraniaceae (either "Regals" or "Domesticum"). Are these just more colloquial categories or does that site just not sell them?

When I look at the varieties at Geraniaceae under Pelorgonium->Angel/Pansy Face I see a host of options some of which look like they might be Regals similar to what we call "Marthas" but I can't be sure. I suppose that if they are similar to the Marthas that she wouldn't want to try them in the full/part sun beds.

So I guess my main questions are: what would be some good replacements for her boring "P.Hortorum" that would thrive in part to full sun and have good flower power (long lasting blooms that can be seen from the street at, say, 100 yards). Would any or most of the "Pelorgonium->Angel/Pansy Face" be suitable?

Thanks, sorry for the newbie questions.

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Comments (3)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 years ago
Geraniaceae is an excellent source but they do not carry the more common types of pellies/geraniums - no zonals, fancy leafs or Martha Washingtons (Regals). And for maximum flower power, nothing beats the zonals (P. xhortorum), as boring as they may be. Angels and pansy face geraniums are great plants but have a much more delicate, less in-your-face type of flowering. The scented leaf geraniums are similar - they are wonderful little plants but not as showy as the zonals or Marthas.

All can be wintered over as houseplants or forced into dormancy and taken into a protected (frost-free) location for winter.
ontnative
15 years ago
I agree with gardengal. Nothing beats the plain old "geraniums" (actually pelargoniums) for colour, long-flowering, drought tolerance, etc. There are many attractive colours other than the common red. You could combine them with one of the new petunias or petunia relatives to give a longlasting and tough show. I usually just go to one of my local greenhouses and select colour combinations that appeal to me. I can mix and match pellies, petunias, etc. and see which combinations are new and vibrant.
The website you mentioned specializes more in hardy, perennial geraniums, sometimes called true geraniums or cranesbills. I have lots of those. They soon become an addiction.
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goren
15 years ago
If you have been bored by the color and foliage of past geraniums then I invite you do a walk-around any large full service nursery; they keep coming out with new strains every year.
Some of the colors are just plain outstanding.

The Martha Washingtons (regal geranium) do not take full sun well and need cool nights to set buds. The bloom that they put out are sometimes disappointing where put out in hot summers.

Perhaps you've seen just one type flowering geranium but there are many out there with other type of petal forming.
Add to that the many multi-colored plants that add a lot to their show.

Since the geranium is one of the few annual treated perennials that can be saved from year to year, they do make for inexpensive gardening.