Grandma's double red geranium

9 years ago

I was pruning Grandma's geranium preparing to bring it in for the winter. I started to wonder about it. After doing some looking online, I can't find it so am turning to you for help. Grandma had this geranium on the farm, bringing it in every winter. Eventually mom took over. Mom is now 88, in assisted living. The geranium came to live with me. In case the photo doesn't work, it has solid colored leaves, no darker areas. Each blossom is tightly closed like a little rose blossom. I have not seen it produce seeds. I imagine it would be difficult for a pollinator to get to the center. We restart it every couple of years from cuttings to keep it small enough to bring in.

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HU-867720929

7 years ago

I am in the UK. I know the plant in the picture as 'Plum Rambler', named I assume for its purplish-cerise flower colour. It is one of the victorian Rambler range, of which Apple Blossom is the only well-known one it seems. I am also lucky enough to have 'Red Rambler' [brilliant scarlet] and 'Rose Rambler' [a deep cerise-pink]. I have tried to find out as much as possible about them. I have heard they were Queen Victoria's favourite [which is a predictable sales-pitch] and that apple blossom at least was created in the early 1800s. They do all seem to share parentage in their large straggly habit as well as the flower shape. Leaf-markings seem to be variable with climate, light, soil type etc, but often develop a red cast all over, especially if left in the same pot for long.

I am now specially lucky, as I found someone who gave me a cutting of the rarest one I know, the variegated Apple Blossom. This seems to be a much slower-growing plant, as might be expected, with paler blooms.

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Comments (10)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
9 years ago
It's what's known as a rosebud geranium, a pelargonium hybrid that has been around since the Victorian period. It does produce viable seeds but whether they come true to type, I can't say. Most are propagated clonally by cuttings.
Grantgarden2 Zone 5a/b
9 years ago
Sorry I'm late to the party. But It is a rosebud geranium ask gardengal48 said above. Is the colors of the blooms true as what the pictures show? I love that color as it almost looks like a dark red velvet color.

Grantgarden2
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heath (MA Zone 6)
9 years ago
what a beautiful geranium! Would you be willing to sell or trade a couple of cuttings this summer? I am just starting with geraniums. I have an appleblossom (another rosebud geranium) on order for this spring that I can trade cuttings on.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
"The Victorian period was magical". Crikey - magical? Cholera, rickets, slums, child miners, 12 hour working days, ???
Paul MI
9 years ago
LOL, Floral! Yes there is often the tendency for people to romanticize past ages.
Nancy Jo
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you for your information. If you want a cutting contact me at nanjo 54 at Gmail dot com. I live near St Paul MN. I have a few extra.
Nancy Jo
Original Author
9 years ago
And yes, the color is a pinkish red. Not Salmon or orange-ish at all.
katob Z6ish, NE Pa
9 years ago
Very nice color, the rosebuds seem hard to find around here other than a pink one. I love the history you have with it!
Nancy Jo
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks to the information you have given me I believe I have possibly narrowed it down to either Alois or Rose of Bulgaria. Does anyone know the difference?