Florist’s Geranium
Pelargonium species and Pelargonium X hortorum. GERANIACEAE.
Planting and Growing Florist’s Geranium
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow florist’s geranium in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of florist’s geranium
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for florist’s geranium
- Season of bloom and planting time for florist’s geranium
- When, how deep, and where to plant florist’s geranium
- How to plant florist’s geranium
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of florist’s geranium
- Landscape and container uses of florist’s geranium
- Comments about florist’s geranium and its features
Growing Florist’s Geranium
About 280 species, many hybrids of mounding annual or perennial herbs and shrubs, to 4 ft. (1.2 m) tall. Hairy, textured, mid- to gray green or variegated, round, lobed, or ivylike leaves, to 5 in. (13 cm) wide.
See also Trailing Geranium, Pelargonium pelatum, a closely related species with trailing habit and similar care needs.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many orange, pink, purple, red, white, star-, saucer-, or butterfly-shaped, 5-petaled, fragrant flowers, to 4 in. (10 cm) wide, in clusters, in spring–summer; some are repeat bloomers.
Best Climates
Tender. Plant as annual, zones 3–7; ground hardy, zones 8–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Average. 7.0–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full sun, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart, after soil warms.
Proper Care
Easy. Keep damp; allow soil surface to dry between waterings. Fertilize monthly during growth with complete, low-nitrogen fertilizer. Deadhead spent flowers to prolong bloom. Cut to ground in autumn after frost, zones 8–10; store containers indoors, zones 3–7. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for hanging baskets, beds, containers, massed plantings in cottage, formal, rock, wildlife gardens. Attracts bees, birds, butterflies, hummingbirds. Aphid, spider mite, whitefly and mildew susceptible.