Geranium, Annual (Pelargonium spp.)

Geranium, Annual Plant Features

American gardeners have had a love affair with geraniums for decades. These colorful annuals are a cinch to grow and look just as good in the border as they do in pots, planters, and window boxes. But, geraniums have a big secret. They aren't really geraniums after all, but members of the pelargonium family. True geraniums are actually perennial in nature and are sometimes called cranesbill.

Nomenclature aside, the plants we know and love as geraniums are truly wonderful plants that come in a variety of forms including: zonals, ivies, and interspecifics. All are available in a host of colors and bi-colors. Besides their flowers, zonal geraniums are prized for their pretty patterned foliage and upright form. Ivies make great basket plants because their trailing foliage and gorgeous blooms look terrific tumbling over the edge. And don't forget interspecific varieties. This relatively new type of geranium is a cross between zonal and ivy geraniums bearing the best qualities of both parents and never seem to go out of bloom. Geranium flowers are also highly prized by butterflies and hummingbirds. The plants are relatively deer resistant.

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Geranium, Annual Growing Instructions

Geraniums are sun worshippers so plant them where they will receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day. Relatively drought resistant, geraniums still prefer a drink whenever the soil dries out. But, don't over water or the plants will rot at the base. Remove the faded flowers as they appear to keep the plant tidy and to encourage more bloom. If you are growing geraniums in pots, plant them in a commercial potting soil mix.

Get more tips for shopping for and buying beautiful geraniums.

Geranium is not recommended for human or animal consumption.

Water

Well-drained soil
Light

Outside: Sun
Colors

Orange

Pink

Red

Variegated

White

Yellow
Special Features

Attracts butterflies

Attracts hummingbirds

Deer/rabbit resistant

Fragrant flowers/foliage

Super-easy to grow

Complement your Geranium, Annual

Angelonia
Angelonia makes a truly wonderful partner for Geranium in window boxes and planters.

Calibrachoa
Mix Calibrachoa in a pot of bright Geranium and let the sparks fly.

Marigold
Dwarf Marigold and Geranium are a classic combination.

Our favorite varieties

Calliope Dark Red Geranium

Pelargonium ‘Calliope Dark Red’

‘Calliope Dark Red’ geranium is a showstopper that offers disease-resistant foliage and a nonstop supply of deep red flowers. ‘Calliope Dark Red’ geranium grows 12 inches tall and wide.

Calliope Hot Pink Geranium

Pelargonium 'Calliope Hot Pink'

Calliope Hot Pink' geranium has large, long-lasting hot-pink flower clusters over a mound of dark green foliage. It grows 12 inches tall and wide.

Survivor Pink Passion Geranium

Pelargonium 'Survivor Pink Passion'

Survivor Pink Passion geranium is an easy-care zonal variety that shows off big clusters of bold pink flowers over a mound of dark green foliage. It grows 16 inches tall and wide.

Big EZEE Pink Geranium

Pelargonium 'Big EZEE Pink'

Big EZEE Pink shows off good heat tolerance and big pink flower heads. A vigorous variety, it grows 24 inches tall and wide.

Big EZEE Red Geranium

Pelargonium 'Big EZEE Red'

Big EZEE Red stands out because of its larger-than-average flowers and heat tolerance. It grows about 24 inches tall and wide.

Candy White Parfait Geranium

Pelargonium 'Candy White Parfait'

Candy White Parfait geranium offers white flowers that have attractive pink blotches. This zonal variety grows 24 inches tall and wide.

Dixieland Deep Red Geranium

Pelargonium 'Dixieland Deep Red'

Dixieland Deep Red is an interspecific geranium with extra-large flowers and dark green foliage. It grows 24 inches tall and wide.

Great Balls of Fire Burgundy Geranium

Pelargonium 'Great Balls of Fire Burgundy'

Great Balls of Fire Burgundy is an interspecific geranium that shows its ivy-type parentage. It has clusters of dark purple-red flowers and dark green foliage. It grows 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Great Balls of Fire Deep Rose Geranium

Pelargonium 'Great Balls of Fire Deep Rose'

Great Balls of Fire Deep Rose is an interspecific geranium that's excellent for window boxes, hanging baskets, and other containers. It shows off clusters of dark rich pink flowers and dark green foliage. It grows 12 inches tall and spreads 24 inches wide.

Great Balls of Fire White Geranium

Pelargonium 'Great Balls of Fire White'

Great Balls of Fire White is an interspecific geranium offers white flowers lightly flushed with soft pink. It shows off clusters of dark rich pink flowers and dark green foliage. It gets 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide.

Patriot Bright Violet Geranium

Pelargonium 'Patriot Bright Violet'

Patriot Bright Violet geranium is a zonal type that shows off vivid purple-red flowers over rich green foliage. It reaches 24 inches tall and wide.

Pinto Premium Rose Bicolor Geranium

Pelargonium 'Pinto Premium Rose Bicolor'

Pinto Premium Rose Bicolor offers many clusters of small pink-and-white flowers on compact plants that grow about 14 inches tall and wide.

Survivor Baby Face Geranium

Pelargonium 'Survivor Baby Face'

Survivor Baby Face zonal geranium bears clusters of soft pink flowers over rich, dark green foliage. It grows 16 inches tall and wide.

Presto Pink Geranium

Pelargonium 'Presto Pink'

Presto Pink zonal geranium shows off dark green leaves and extra-large flowerheads of soft pink blooms. It grows 10 inches tall and wide.

Presto Dark Salmon Geranium

Pelargonium 'Presto Dark Salmon'

Presto Dark Salmon has lush, dark green leaves that accent the big, gorgeous heads of salmon-red flowers. It grows 10 inches tall and 12 inches wide.

Presto Pink Sizzle Geranium

Pelargonium 'Presto Pink Sizzle'

An easy-to-grow annual geranium, Presto Pink Sizzle offers soft pink flowers accented with hot-pink markings. It grows 10 inches tall and wide.

Mrs. Pollock Geranium

Pelargonium 'Mrs. Pollock'

A geranium grown for its foliage, Mrs. Pollock is elegantly variegated with cream, pink, and burgundy. Mrs. Pollock also produces heads of red flowers.

Fantasia White Geranium

Pelargonium 'Fantasia White'

Fantasia White is a cute geranium that bears heads of pure white semi-double flowers over dark green foliage. It grows 14 inches tall and wide.

Ice Queen Geranium

Pelargonium 'Ice Queen'

While most annual geraniums are grown for their colorful flowers, Ice Queen (also sold as Mint Julep) is loved for its leaves, which are broadly banded in bright white. It grows 16 inches tall and wide. Ice Queen geranium was a top performer in our Trial Garden.

Maverick Violet Geranium

Pelargonium 'Maverick Violet'

Maverick Violet geranium bears big heads of violet-pink flowers nontop throughout the summer. It's charming in landscape beds, garden borders, and containers. Maverick Violet grows 18 inches tall and wide.

Calliope Medium Dark Red Geranium

Pelargonium 'Calliope Medium Dark Red'

Calliope Medium Dark Red geranium offers is a resilient variety that stays tidy and compact. It grows 12 inches tall and wide.

Calliope Medium Dark Rose Geranium

Pelargonium 'Calliope Medium Dark Rose'

Able to keep blooming well, even if you don't remove its faded flowers, Calliope Medium Dark Rose stays compact,m making it perfect for container gardens.

Callope Medium Red Geranium

Pelargonium 'Calliope Medium Red'

Calliope Medium Red stays more compact than many of its other cousins, and blooms profusely with rich red flowers.