Pelargonium

( pel - ar - GOH - nee - um )

At-A-Glance Information

The common name of this genus is Geranium or Storksbill, and plants need some shade in warmer climates and moderate to regular water to perform well. These flowers will attract birds to your garden. They are frost-tender and woody-based natives of South Africa. They have succulent-type stems and leaves, with flowers held in clusters. They perform best in areas with warm dry days and cooler nights. All types of Pelargonium do best in containers; they bloom the best when they are somewhat pot-bound. Geranium leaves can be used to flavor teas and jellies as well as add color to containers, borders, mixed beds, or hanging baskets.

Pelargonium Species and Varietals

The genus Pelargonium is a member of the plant family Geraniaceae, and includes around 280 species. Geraniums grow best in zones 8, 9 and 12-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Pelargonium acetosum (Sorrel Cransebill, Sorrel-Leaved Pelargonium)
These plants are native to the eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa, and reach up to 2 feet tall when mature. Flowers are salmon-pink. Young leaves are sour and used in the plant's native range in a way similar to Sorrel (Rumex). 

Pelargonium album
Native to South Africa, these plants produce apple/mint scented foliage and small white flowers. These are compact, semi-succulent plants that prefer light shade. They reach up to 6 inches tall and 16 inches wide.

Pelargonium australe (Native Storksbill, Wild Geranium, Austral Storksbill)
These plants reach 20 inches tall when mature and in bloom, and flower between October and March in the species' native range (Australia). These flowering subshrubs grow naturally on sand dunes, coastal cliffs and rocky outcrops and are great coastal garden plants. Flowers are white with pink-violet to magenta markings.
Pelargonium capitatum (Rose Geranium, Rose-Scented Pelargonium)
This species, native to South Africa, forms a low shrub that reaches 40 inches tall. Stems and leaves are green and soft, covered with hairs. When brushed, plants emit a rose-like scent. Flowers can be white or shades of pink to purple. These are vigorous growers, and can grow in most substrates, including clay. There are many cultivars of this species, outlined below.
Atomic Snowflake
 Foliage has a lemony-rose scent and flowers are light pink.
Attar of Roses
With large heads of pink flowers that have darker pink markings. Foliage has a sweet scent.
Rober's Lemon Rose
Lemon-scented foliage and pink flowers.
Round-Leaf Rose
This variety has rose-pink flowers and light green rose-scented foliage.

Pelargonium cordifolium (Pelargonium cordatum)
This rounded plant grows to 4 feet tall and wide, and produces clusters of reddish purple flowers, These plants are fantastic in border gardens. They are endemic to the Southern Cape of South Africa. 

Pelargonium domesticum (Lady Washington Pelargonium, Martha Washington Pelargonium, Regal Geranium)
Leaves on this species are dark green and appear on a plant that is 3 feet tall and wide. Flowers come in many colors, including pink, red, lavender and purple blotched with darker colors. Great for containers or hanging baskets.

Pelargonium grossularioides (Gooseberry Geranium, Coconut Geranium)
These plants are native to South Africa, and have naturalized in other parts of the world, such as California and India. They are sometimes grown as garden ornamentals. Leaves are green to reddish, and flowers are pink to dark reddish-purple, blooming in large inflorescences.
Pelargonium x hortorum (Common Geranium, Garden Geranium)
This hybrid species of Geranium has stems that are succulent, and gets to 1-2 feet tall and just as wide. Some varieties have plain green foliage, others have banded leaves. Flowers can be single or double and come in white, pink, rose, red, orange, lavender-blue and violet. There are many interesting varieties in this group of Geraniums, some of which are outlined below.
Americana Series
​Uniformly branched plant that has a good resistance to heat.
Rocky Mountain
Good, vigorous, heat resistant strain of Geranium.
Black Velvet
With purple-black foliage edged in bright green, with large multicolored flowers.

Pelargonium inodorum (Wild Pelargonium)
This short-lived perennial species is native to New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and New South Wales, and has scented leaves and pink flowers. Individual plants reach up to 14 inches tall. 

Pelargonium inquinans (Scarlet Geranium)
Endemic to South Africa, this species produces a small shrub that reaches up to six and half feet tall. Flowers are scarlet-red and bloom in large inflorescences at stem tips and are present for most months of the year in the plant's native range.

Pelargonium odoratissimum (Apple Geranium, Apple Pelargonium)
This species produces foliage that has a distinct apple scent. These small shrubs have a spreading habit and reach 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Flowers are pale pink and small. Leaves are waxy and green. These plants are commonly grown as houseplants and as garden ornamentals. They also have uses as medicinal plants.
Pelargonium peltatum (Ivy Geranium, Ivy-Leaved Pelargonium, Cascading Geranium)
Reaches 1.5 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. Leaves are bright green and succulent, and flowers can be single or double in colors that include white, pink, rose, red and lavender. Upper petals may be streaked with darker colors. Select varieties are described here.
Freestyle Series
This semi-trailing group comes in a wide range of colors. 
'L'elegante'
White-edged foliage. 
Summer Showers Strain
Mixed-color blossoms in combinations of white pink, magenta, red and lavender.
Galleria Series
Flowers that come in red, coral and pink tones on vigorous, heat-resistant plants. 
Caliente Series
This group of Geraniums has a high heat resistance and comes with flowers in warm, rosey tones. 

Pelargonium quercifolium (Oakleaf Geranium, Oak-Geranium, Almond Geranium)
These natives of South Africa are commonly grown as ornamental plants around the world. These dense-branching shrubs typically reach about 4 feet tall and wide, and produce aromatic foliage. Flowers are pink with darker pink to magenta markings, and bloom through most of the year in areas with mild climates.
Giant Oak
This species has balsam-scented blotchy leaves with pink flowers.
Royal Oak
This variety has pink flowers are dark leaf veining.
Chocolate Peppermint
With dark blotched leaf centers and a slight minty scent.
Clorinda
Sweet-scented leaves and large pink flowers.
Pelargonium radens (Rasp-Leaf Pelargonium)
This species reaches up to just under 5 feet tall when mature, and produces deeply cut gray-green leaves. In summertime, pinkish-purple flowers bloom in terminal clusters. These plants are native to South Africa. There are many garden ornamental cultivars of this species, including:
Candy Dancer
With rose-scented foliage and white and pink flowers.
Crowfoot
With finely divided green foliage and pink flowers with dark pink markings.
Dr. Livingstone
With rose-scented leaves and light pink flowers with dark pink markings.
Red-Flowered Rose
Reddish-pink flowers.

Pelargonium sidoides (African Geranium, South African Geranium)
Slow grower to a foot tall and wide, with with silvery-grey leaves and dark purple flowers on trailing branching stems. These plants are native to South Africa and grow well in grasslands in rocky soils.

Pelargonium 'Splendide'
This species reaches 1-1.5 feet tall slowly and has silvery-grey leaves. Blossoms are dark red and white. This species is great for hanging baskets and for container plantings.

Pelargonium tomentosum (Peppermint-Scented Geranium)
This species is native to South Africa and is a tall, spreading species that reaches up to 40 inches tall and wide. Foliage is very soft and hairy, and has a strong mint-like scent to it. Leaves are green-grey to green and flowers are small and white.

​Pelargonium vitifolium (Grapeleaf Geranium)
A plant with foliage reminiscent of those on Grape (Vitis) plants. These common garden ornamentals take the form of an erect shrub to 40 inches tall. Leaves are aromatic and flowers are pink with purplish markings. 

Caring for Pelargonium

Geranium likes fast-draining soil but is not picky otherwise, as long as the soil is amended with organic material. If grown in sandy soil, feed these plants with a fertilizer during active growing periods. When young, tips can be pinched to encourage a more bushy habit. 

​Harvesting Pelargonium

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Whiteflies
Aphids
Spider Mites
Geranium or Tobacco Worm
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Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: List of Pelargonium Species
Wikipedia: Pelargonium
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 487 - 488, Pelargonium
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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