Probably everyone has heard about this flower, but in the minds of most flower lovers it is ingrained that geranium grows on the windowsill. But in fact, pelargonium grows on windowsills.
Photo of garden geranium
At one time, botanists combined these two plants into one genus. But later, after a more thorough study, experts “separated” geranium and pelargonium, determining that these are two different genera of the same family - geraniums.
And there are more than enough reasons for such a division.
- All pelargoniums are thermophilic, as they come mainly from South Africa. In our climate they are grown as houseplants. True, pelargoniums are often planted in the garden in the summer, but in the fall they are brought into the house. But the vast majority of geranium varieties feel great and winter in open ground without problems, since they come from temperate climates.
- Compare the flowers of these plants. In pelargonium they are irregular, bilaterally symmetrical, while in geranium all the petals are the same. This is clearly visible in the photograph.
Because of this confusion, geraniums became known as true geraniums.
The height of different types is from 10 to 120 cm, which allows the flower to be used in a variety of compositions. And yet you should not purchase any kind.
Not all varieties of geranium from Western Europe do well in Russia.
Winter-hardy varieties of garden geraniums
Himalayan geranium
Frost-resistant perennial (overwinters in the ground). It grows with the help of underground rhizomes, forming loose bushes 30-40 cm high. The leaves are slightly dissected, the flowers are large - 4-6 cm in diameter. By the way, this variety is a kind of champion in the genus of geraniums in terms of flower size (pay attention to the photo above). This is a good perennial garden plant that can tolerate lack of moisture and moderate shading.
Himalayan geranium winters well in our climate (winter hardiness down to minus 29 degrees). This type of geranium does not have any varieties as such, but there are garden forms.
The Graveti form has very beautiful large flowers of almost pure bright blue color.
There is a terry form of Plenum or otherwise Vech Double, it is lower and more compact than the natural form.
Meadow geranium
Short-rhizome perennial with dense tall bushes. Large lilac-blue flowers bloom in early summer and bloom for a very long time. Prefers well-lit areas with moisture-absorbing soils. The varieties have not only a variety of flower colors, but also leaves.
Geranium forest
A common variety of garden geranium with deeply lobed leaves and lilac-blue flowers with a white center that bloom in late spring. True to its name, it prefers partial shade, especially in the hot season. Decorative forms come with pink, white, blue-violet flowers.
Geranium red-brown
A forest species, prefers shady places with loose, moist soils, but also tolerates dry ones. Thanks to the beautiful leaves, the hemispherical shape of the bush, 50 cm high, is decorative all season long. Purple-brown small flowers are not a “feature” of this plant.But fairly large leaves, cut into 7-9 lobes (some cultivators may have purple-brown spots, brown-black stripes, a creamy-white pattern) make this geranium attractive. One of the few produces abundant self-seeding.
Blood red geranium
A low, short-rhizome perennial variety of garden geranium with lacy leaves forming small “domes” (as in the photo above). It blooms in late spring and blooms almost the entire season. It has decorative forms with white, pink, violet-purple, lilac flowers. Decorative forms have different sizes and density of bushes. The leaves smell pleasantly like a mixture of lemon and mint. It grows slowly. It has a very long flowering period. Good for cutting.
Geranium macrorhizomatous
Its woody, lodging stems quickly form a closed cover up to 30 cm high; its fragrant leaves acquire a beautiful color in the fall. This variety of geranium is very unpretentious, grows well in partial shade and tolerates even dry shade under the canopy of trees. Blooms in early summer. The flowers are small, bright pink. There are decorative forms with white, raspberry-red, pale pink, and purple flowers. It is used as a universal ground cover plant, the dense closed carpet of which leaves no chance for weeds.
Cantabrigian geranium
This variety of geranium, with a name that is difficult to pronounce, is similar in appearance to the previous one, but does not grow as much, and its leaves are smaller. Blooms in early summer. There are varieties with white, carmine and pink flowers. This geranium requires pruning of horizontal shoots after flowering (every 3 years) to maintain the compactness of the bush and, accordingly, maintain high decorative value.
Geranium is magnificent
Forms powerful bushes up to 60 cm high with large, up to 5 cm in diameter, lilac-blue flowers. It has huge soft leaves of a dark green color, which become brightly colored in the fall. It blooms in mid-summer, but not for very long. It grows best in open sunny places, but can also tolerate partial shade, while the flowering is not very spectacular, and the stems weaken and lie down.
Geranium small-stamen
It stands out among other species with its large, bright crimson flowers with a black center. The leaves are carved and large. Height up to 70 cm. Blooms in summer.
Geranium eriantum
One of the most frost-resistant varieties of garden geraniums. Forms compact bushes up to 50 cm high. Flowers are from lilac to purple in dense umbellate inflorescences.
Dalmatian geranium
One of the lowest species, no more than 15 cm. It grows into large decorative pillows until the end of the season. It blooms in mid-summer with bright pink flowers up to 3.5 cm in diameter.
Decoration of any garden
Over the past twenty years, geraniums, previously considered too modest and not bright enough, have suddenly become fashionable. The birthplace of most new forms and varieties is Great Britain, which is obviously due to stable gardening traditions and a favorable climate.
Why did modest geraniums become popular? The fact is that recently the emphasis in ideas about the beauty of the garden has shifted. For a long time now, in the best private gardens of the world, compositions in a natural style have replaced bright ceremonial flower beds.
The photo shows a garden decorated in a natural style
Low-maintenance gardens have become popular, in which the main role is played by unpretentious, hardy crops that retain their decorative properties throughout the warm season. Plants that are valued not only for their flowering or not for it at all have come to the fore.
The main ones are spectacular foliage and shape (dense bush, thick carpet).Thanks to their discreet flowering, attractive habit, texture and color of leaves, perennial garden geraniums have become one of these plants.
Natural or eco-style in the garden
Geraniums are a lazy gardener's dream. They are surprisingly unpretentious and hardy, unpretentious to soils, most of them tolerate drought well, grow quickly, and are long-lived. They practically do not suffer from diseases and pests.
The photo shows perennial geranium in combination with other flowers
Being in the flower beds on the sidelines, she does not lose at all because she loves her partners. There is no decorative composition where this flower would be out of place.
Garden geranium in a flowerbed
Cantabrigian geranium is highly valued (despite its one-time flowering) for its neat, hilly bush, complete unpretentiousness and longevity (ten years in one place).
Blood-red geranium is distinguished by long flowering and longevity, small-stamened geranium has charming bright flowers, beautiful carved leaves with bright autumn colors.
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