Pelargonium x hybridum
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Pelargonium × hortorum
- Phonetic Spelling
- pe-lar-GO-nee-um hy-BRID-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Geranium is a low-maintenance garden annual or houseplant that is in the geranium family (Geraniaceae). It is a hybrid cross between Pelargonium zonale and Pelargonium inquinans. The genus name is taken from the Greek word pelargos meaning a stork as the plant’s elongated fruit capsule has a beak like a stork.
Geranium requires full sun and cool, moist soils that are well-drained. It has a low tolerance for drought. The plant forms a rounded mound 1 to 3 feet tall. Seeds should be started indoors in January to February on top of a heat mat set to 70 to 75 degrees; Plant outside after the last frost. Stem cuttings may be taken July to August and grown under glass or in a sunny window until danger of frost has passed.
Flowers of geranium may be single, semi-double or double and are most commonly red, pink or white. The plant blooms from summer until frost and the flowers and leaves are fragrant and attract butterflies.
Geranium is a popular plant for hanging baskets, containers and garden beds. It can be overwintered indoors as a houseplant in a bright, sunny, but cool, location.
Quick ID Hints:
- Flowers in umbels on elongated peduncle
- Leaves reniform to orbicular, and peltate
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to caterpillars, spider mites, mealybugs, fungal diseases and bacterial diseases. Some cultivars have shown a fair amount of resistance to abiotic disorder (where fair is defined as less than half of the plants in a recent study died from the disease). See Phytophthora Root and Crown Rot in the Landscape.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Annuals, Perennials, Vines, and Groundcovers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Deck Garden Container Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bravo Pastel'
- 'Bullseye Cherry'
Fair amount of resistance to abiotic disorder. - 'Caliente Orange'
- 'Calliope Dark Red'
Fair amount of resistance to abiotic disorder. - 'Calliope Scarlet Fire'
- 'Frenza Fire'
- 'Sophia'
- 'Straitum'
- 'Tango Dark Red'
- 'Bravo Pastel'
- 'Bravo Pastel', 'Bullseye Cherry', 'Caliente Orange', 'Calliope Dark Red', 'Calliope Scarlet Fire', 'Frenza Fire', 'Sophia', 'Straitum', 'Tango Dark Red'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bravo Pastel'
- 'Bullseye Cherry'
Fair amount of resistance to abiotic disorder. - 'Caliente Orange'
- 'Calliope Dark Red'
Fair amount of resistance to abiotic disorder. - 'Calliope Scarlet Fire'
- 'Frenza Fire'
- 'Sophia'
- 'Straitum'
- 'Tango Dark Red'
- 'Bravo Pastel'
- 'Bravo Pastel', 'Bullseye Cherry', 'Caliente Orange', 'Calliope Dark Red', 'Calliope Scarlet Fire', 'Frenza Fire', 'Sophia', 'Straitum', 'Tango Dark Red'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Pelargonium
- Family:
- Geraniaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Mounding
- Maintenance:
- High
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are rare, but when present, they are elongated capsules with a beak, dehiscing from beak downwards, and coiling.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are single, semidouble to double, uniform in color of red, pink, or salmon, and occasionally peppermint. Flowers have 5 petals and appear subrotate. Inflorescence is an erect umbel on a long peduncle with involucral bracts hidden.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Peltate
- Reniform
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are simple, alternate to subopposite, orbicular to reniform, peltate, crenate, undulate to sinuate, cordate, and pubescent. Bruised leaves are aromatic. Leaves are green, often variegated green with a dark green zone in from the margin. Stipules are large, persistent.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Stems are erect, succulent, and glabrescent.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Houseplants
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Malodorous
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Vomiting, anorexia, dermatitis Primarily GI upset. Could also see ataxia, muscle weakness, depression or hypothermia in larger exposures, cats are most sensitive.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Geraniol, linalool
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
