It's approaching bedding plant season and we've been busy stocking up! We just received a huge shipment of 8,000 geraniums (Pelargoniums). Although the red varieties are quite ubiquitous as a container plant, Pelargoniums are actually quite varied in form, scent and colors.

The common term 'geranium' is a bit of a misnomer for these popular plants. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called cranesbills or hardy geraniums. Both genera belong to the family, Geraniaceae. The confusion stems from Linnaeus originally including all the species in one genus, Geranium, but their later being separated into two genera by Charles L'Héritier in 1789. Pelargonium species that we call geraniums are evergreen perennials indigenous to Southern Africa and are drought and heat tolerant, but can tolerate only minor frosts. Thus, they are annuals in our region unless over-wintered in a heated greenhouse or a bright location indoors.

Other than being grown for their beauty, species such as P. graveolens are important in the perfume industry and are cultivated and distilled for their scents. Although scented Pelargoniums exist which have smells of citrus, mint, pine, spices or various fruits, the varieties with rose scents are the most commercially important.

Here is a sampling from the four groups that we carry at the Nursery this year:

 

Regal Geraniums - Pelargonium × domesticum:

A large bush type that is floriferous, evergreen Pelargoniums are grown for the richness and beauty of their large flower heads. The majority of those grown today have been hybridized in the last 50 years and tend to be very short jointed and compact thus requiring little work to achieve a well rounded plant. Flowers are single, rarely double in mauve, pink, purple or white. They have rounded sometimes lobed or partially serrated leaves, unlike the Zonal groups, without any type of zoning (banding).

 

The Regal Pelargonium group includes "Decorative" types which are the descendants of older, less compact, smaller flowered varieties that are more suited to outdoor conditions; and "Oriental" types, which are the result of crosses between Regals and members of the Angel group. Some have bi-color foliage. They are often known as the 'Martha Washington' or 'Lady Washington' Pelargoniums.

 

Martha Washington 'Anastasia'	Martha Washington 'Bimbo'	Martha Washington 'Art Lady'	Martha Washington 'Bell Adelaide'

 

Ivy-Leaved Geraniums - Pelargonium peltatum:

Global Rose Pink	Global Red	Global Starts & Stripes	Mini Red

Common Garden Geraniums or Zonal Geraniums - Pelargonium x hortorum:
Sold as bedding plants, they are compact in habit and often have fancy leaves marked by distinct bands or zones of darker pigments, tri-colored leaves or leaves with silver or white markings. Flowers may be single or double, are clustered into heads, and range from red, pink, salmon and white.

Candy Rose Splash	Grand Idols Neon Pink	Maestro White Spash	Dixieland Deep Red

Scented-Leaved Geraniums: 

These varieties have a wide range of foliage types and habits; and are used for making potpourris, sachets, and to flavored teas. They make excellent houseplants, and many have soft, finely textured foliage which is pleasing even though the flowers are small and not showy. Common varieties include:   

P. graveolens - the Rose-scented geranium
P. crispum - the Lemon-scented geranium
P. x fragrans - the Nutmeg geranium
P. odoratissimum - the Apple-scented geranium
P. tomentosum - the Peppermint geranium.

P. citronellum  - Citronella geranium

 

P. graveolens	P. crispum	P. tomentosum	P. citronellum

   

For additional information on the care of Pelargoniums, click here: 

It may be blustery and wet outside but our Primrose gift shop is bursting with Springtime cheer. Come and discover the one-of-a-kind treasures we have in store, both new and vintage.