Geraniums are everywhere. Walk into any big-box garden center in May and you’ll see rows of them, mostly vibrant reds and screaming pinks, jammed into plastic six-packs. But here is the thing: most of those aren't actually geraniums.
It’s a naming mess that has persisted for over two centuries.
Back in the 1700s, botanists realized that the plants we commonly call "geraniums" actually belong to the genus Pelargonium. The "true" geraniums are hardy perennials. This distinction matters because if you buy a Pelargonium expecting it to survive a Minnesota winter, you’re going to be staring at a pot of mush by January. Understanding the different types of geraniums starts with unlearning that bit of botanical confusion.
The big identity crisis: Pelargonium vs. Geranium
So, why the name mix-up?
Basically, early botanists lumped them together because their seed pods look like crane bills. In fact, "Geranium" comes from the Greek word geranos, meaning crane. Eventually, they realized the floral structure was different. True geraniums have symmetrical flowers with five equal petals. Pelargoniums have two upper petals that look different from the three lower ones.
If you want something that returns every year in a cold climate, you want the Hardy Geranium, also known as Cranesbill. These are the tough-as-nails groundcovers. They don't mind a bit of shade. They aren't flashy like the bedding plants you see at the grocery store, but they are the workhorses of a perennial border.
On the flip side, we have the "Zonal" types. These are the classic porch plants. Technically they are Pelargonium x hortorum. They get their name from the "zone" of darker color on their leaves. They are succulent-stemmed and love the sun. But remember, they are tropical. They hate the frost.
Zonal Geraniums: The heavy hitters
Zonals are the icons. You’ve seen them.
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They have those thick, hairy stems and big, rounded flower heads called umbels. Most people treat them as annuals, tossing them when the first frost hits, which is kinda tragic because they can live for decades if you bring them inside.
I’ve seen Zonal geraniums in Europe that have grown into literal shrubs. In places like coastal California or Greece, they just keep going. They thrive on neglect. Honestly, the biggest mistake people make with Zonals is overwatering. They have those thick stems for a reason—they store water. If you keep the soil soggy, the roots will rot faster than you can say "botrytis."
Ivy-Leaved varieties for the "spiller" effect
If you’re looking to fill a hanging basket, you aren't looking for a Zonal. You want Pelargonium peltatum, or Ivy-leaved geraniums.
The leaves are glossy and thick, almost like real ivy. The stems are trailing and a bit more brittle. They don’t handle the scorching afternoon heat of a Texas summer quite as well as the Zonals do. They prefer things a bit more temperate. If the temperature stays above 85°F for too long, they might stop blooming entirely. It’s a physiological response called heat check. They’ll start blooming again once the nights cool down.
The weird and wonderful: Scented-leaf geraniums
This is where the different types of geraniums get really interesting.
Scented geraniums don't really care about flowers. Their blooms are usually small, pale, and frankly, a bit pathetic compared to the big showy Zonals. But the foliage? It’s incredible.
Rub a leaf. It might smell like lemon. Or rose. Or peppermint. There are even varieties that smell like chocolate, nutmeg, or "Attar of Roses," which is a staple in the perfume industry. Victorians loved these. They would put them in "parlor gardens" so that as guests’ skirts brushed against the plants, the room would be filled with fragrance.
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- Lemon Scented: Often sold as "Citrosa" or the "Mosquito Plant." (Spoiler: they don't actually repel mosquitoes effectively unless you crush the leaves and rub them on your skin, which I wouldn't necessarily recommend without a patch test).
- Rose Scented: Pelargonium graveolens. These are often used in baking. You can line a cake tin with the leaves to infuse a subtle rose flavor into a sponge cake.
- Peppermint: Large, fuzzy leaves that feel like felt.
Regal Geraniums: The divas of the family
Regal geraniums, or Martha Washingtons (Pelargonium domesticum), are the high-maintenance cousins.
They have huge, pansy-like flowers that are often bi-colored or blotched with deep purples and magentas. They are stunning. But they are picky.
Unlike the rugged Zonal, Regals need cool nights to set buds. If your summer nights are consistently above 60°F, a Martha Washington will just be a green bush with zero flowers. They are popular in the Pacific Northwest or as indoor gift plants in the early spring. Once the heat of July hits in the Midwest or the South, these plants usually "check out" for the season.
Hardy Geraniums: The real deal
Now we move away from the tender Pelargoniums and into the genus Geranium.
These are the plants that stay in the ground all winter. If you want a "plant it and forget it" solution for a garden bed, this is it. Geranium rozanne is arguably the most famous. It won "Plant of the Century" at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for a reason. It blooms from June until the first hard freeze.
Most hardy geraniums have a mounding habit. They are great for "knitting" a garden together, filling the gaps between larger shrubs or roses. They also have a secret talent: many of them turn brilliant shades of red and orange in the autumn.
Why Rozanne changed the game
Before Rozanne, most hardy geraniums had a very short bloom window—maybe three weeks in early summer. Rozanne just doesn't stop. It’s sterile, meaning it doesn't spend energy making seeds. Instead, it just keeps pumping out violet-blue flowers.
It’s worth noting that these plants can get a bit leggy by August. Don't be afraid to take a pair of shears and hack the whole thing down to a few inches above the ground. It feels like murder. It isn't. Within two weeks, you’ll have fresh, lush foliage and a whole new flush of flowers.
Angel and Pansy-Faced types
These are smaller, more compact versions of the Regals.
Angels were developed by crossing Pelargonium crispum with Regal varieties. They have tiny leaves and a profusion of small flowers. They look like a cloud of butterflies. Because they are so dense, they make incredible topiary standards.
If you have a small balcony or just a little bit of windowsill space, an Angel geranium is far more manageable than a massive Zonal. They don't need much. Just a bit of fertilizer and a lot of light.
Getting the most out of your plants
Growing different types of geraniums isn't hard, but people overcomplicate it.
First, drainage is everything. Use a potting mix that is heavy on perlite or grit. If the water sits in the bottom of the pot, the plant is toast.
Second, deadheading is not optional for most varieties. When a flower cluster starts to fade, don't just pull off the dead petals. Follow the stem (the peduncle) all the way back to where it meets the main branch and snap it off there. This tells the plant to stop trying to make seeds and start making more buds.
Third, feed them. Geraniums are "heavy feeders." If you want those massive blooms you see in professional displays, you need to use a water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks during the growing season. Look for something with a slightly higher middle number (phosphorus) to encourage blooming.
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Overwintering: Don't let them die
You don't have to buy new Pelargoniums every year. You really don't.
There are three main ways to save them. You can keep them as houseplants on a bright windowsill, though they often get "leggy" and sad-looking by February. You can take cuttings in late summer, which take up less space.
Or, you can do the "paper bag" method. This sounds like an old wives' tale, but it works. You dig up the plant, knock the soil off the roots, and hang it upside down in a cool, dark basement. In the spring, you soak the roots in water, pot them up, and they roar back to life. It’s a bit of a gamble, and you’ll lose a few, but it’s a great way to keep a favorite variety going for years.
Actionable steps for your garden
If you’re ready to move beyond the basic red geranium, here is how to start.
Start by identifying your "niche." If you have a sunny, dry spot that kills everything else, go for a Zonal. If you have a woodland garden with dappled shade, get a Hardy Geranium like Geranium macrorrhizum.
- Check the label: Look for the Latin name. If it says Pelargonium, keep it out of the frost.
- Master the "Snap": Practice deadheading by snapping the flower stalks at the base rather than cutting them. It’s cleaner for the plant.
- Go scent hunting: Find a nursery that carries scented-leaf varieties. "Chocolate Mint" and "Old Spice" are genuine varieties that will change how you think about "geraniums."
- Prune aggressively: In mid-summer, if your plants look tired, cut them back by a third. It feels wrong, but the resulting growth will be much stronger.
The world of these plants is way deeper than the plastic pots at the grocery store. Whether it's the lemon-scented leaves of a P. crispum or the reliable blue carpet of a Geranium rozanne, there is a version of this plant that fits exactly what your garden needs right now.