Pelargonium × hybridum (garden geranium)

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Pelargonium, Genus, ×, Hybrid, hybridum, Species,

Genus & species
Hybrid

garden geranium

Geraniaceae

Hybrid of garden origin; parents from South Africa

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Pelargonium × hybridum is a tender, woody-based perennial grown as a warm-season annual in most climates, forming a bushy, upright to mounded plant 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) tall and 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) wide. Stems are thick and somewhat succulent. Leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) wide, soft and hairy, with scalloped edges, and many forms carry a darker horseshoe-shaped band. Flowers are clustered in rounded heads on stalks held above the foliage; each cluster holds many five-petaled flowers in red, pink, salmon, white, or bicolor, blooming from spring through fall and year-round in frost-free conditions. The crushed foliage has a pungent scent. Plants are killed by frost but persist for years where winters stay above freezing or when overwintered indoors. Stems grow leggy and bare at the base with age. Overwatering and crowding cause stem and root rot.

Native Range

A hybrid group of garden origin not found in the wild. The parent species, including Pelargonium zonale and Pelargonium inquinans, are native to South Africa, where they grow on dry, rocky slopes and in open scrub.

Suggested Uses

Used in containers, window boxes, bedding schemes, and as a frost-free houseplant, spaced 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) apart. Trailing relatives are grown to spill from baskets, while upright forms are massed in beds. The cold sensitivity and need for regular deadheading and watering limit its use in low-maintenance plantings.

How to Identify

Recognized by rounded, soft-hairy leaves with scalloped edges, many marked with a dark horseshoe-shaped zone, and rounded clusters of five-petaled flowers held on stalks above the foliage. The pungent scent of the crushed leaves and the thick, semi-succulent stems separate it from hardy Geranium species, which have deeply cut leaves and flowers borne singly or in pairs.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 2'

Width/Spread1' - 1'6"

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~22 weeks

Flowers: May–October

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers open from late spring through fall in temperate gardens and year-round in frost-free climates and indoors. Each cluster blooms over 2-3 weeks, and new clusters form through the season. Removing spent clusters keeps flowering steady; bloom slows in extreme heat.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Red, pink, salmon, white, or bicolor

Foliage Description

Green, often with a dark horseshoe-shaped zone

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5 (Neutral to alkaline)

3579

Soil Types

loam sand

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun to part shade in well-drained soil or potting mix; at least six hours of sun gives the heaviest bloom. Water when the top inch (2.5 cm) of soil dries, and let containers drain freely, since soggy soil causes stem and root rot. Feed every 2-4 weeks during active growth with a balanced fertilizer. Botrytis and rust develop in cool, damp, crowded conditions. To overwinter, lift plants before frost and keep them in a cool, bright, frost-free space. Stems grow bare at the base over time and can be cut back to renew the plant.

Pruning

Pinch young plants to encourage branching, and cut back leggy stems by up to one-third in late winter to renew growth. Remove spent flower clusters and yellow leaves through the season. Cut stems back by half before overwintering indoors.

Pruning Schedule

Prune: February–March

early spring