Annual Geraniums
Pelargonium or Geraniums -The work horses of the garden
By Dianne Pilling of Hyde Park Greenhouses
Preferences:
The Parents are native to South Africa and are perennials treated as annuals. They prefer full sun to partial shade (pink varieties do better in partial shade). They do well in rich, moist, well drained soil high in organic matter. They like slightly acidic soil and tolerate heat well.
Cultural Practices:
Propagation - Sow on January 15 at 21 degrees C for 5 - 15 days. Generally stem cuttings are taken by February from parent plants. Greenhouses usually acquire plants as plugs and then grow them on into pots.
Culture - Water and feeding requirements are high as the hybrids are higher maintenance. Deadheading is a must. However, if the plant is ignored it still looks good although will not flower as large or as much. In baskets, feeding is a necessity as the leave will quickly brown.
Landscape Value:
Common Varieties:
$ Martha Washington/Regal/Pansy faced geraniums are my favourite. Feed them heavily with 10-52-10 all summer to keep them flowering.
$ Ivy geraniums are great for baskets at the edge of planters - won’t dry up like verbena if you don’t get them watered on time.
$ Mini-cascade series (alpine varieties) will perform best in the tight space of window boxes.
$
Seed geraniums are great for beds and mass plantings. Their single flower
head shatters in rain so they are not the best choice for container gardens.
$ Zonal geraniums - Cutting grown varieties with dark bands (zones) on the leaves. Most have big beautiful double flower heads that hold up great against the wind and rain. Useful as the mainstay in the centre of patio pots (start with a 6" pot sized plant or larger) or accent/fillers set to the edge of your pot (start with a 6" or 4" sized plant). Zonals come in a variety of growth habits.
$ Stardom series are shorter more spreading types. Flower heads are smaller but there is more of them. Perfect for smaller pots and colour bowls.
$ ‘Kim’, ‘Fox’ and the Candy Series are moderate/intermediate grows - Useful in hanging baskets, sides of large (16" and up) pots or centres of 10" - 14" pots
$ ‘Aurora’ and ‘Crimson Fire’ would be vigorous. These are best for ground beds and large pots.
$ Pillar - Salmon, Pink, or Violet - are newer to the market. They need a support as they get to be at least 3' tall.
$ Rose form geraniums have multi petalled flowers that look like roses. We offer red, and ‘Apple Blossom’ a soft pink
$ Tulip form - you guest it, the flower looks like a bouquet of pink tulips - very limited supply.
$ Variegated leafed plants jazz up a pot
$ Cream and White edged leaves available with red, coral, salmon, bright pink, or pale pink flowers.
$ Gold leaf plants really stand out in a pot. Most have red flowers
‘Crystal Palace geranium - Chartreuse with dark centres
‘Mrs Pollack - tri coloured gold, green with a touch of red
‘Happy Thoughts’ - green edged, gold centred, with pink flowers
‘Vancouver Centennial’ - gold leaf with a rusted middle and star shaped scarlet
flowers
$ Other star shaped flower variety are available but have green leaves
‘Shalimar’ - soft pink
‘Stella Cathay’ peach
‘Cactus’ purple or pink
Proven Winners’ newer series is the Fireworks Series which comes in scarlet. 3 bicolours red and white, pink or cherry.