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 By Linda Paquette
The geranium that brightens your landscape with its brightly
colored flowers may be one of two different species. If you successfully
over-wintered your geranium, chances are it is an herbaceous perennial from
the genus Geranium. However, most often the geraniums that delight us with their
profuse blooms are from the genus Pelargonium.
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The geranium, which originated in South Africa,
made its entrance to the European continent in the 1600’s and has been
propagated and hybridized ever since. Today the geranium is still among the
most popular of the flowering plants. The geranium is a very adaptable flower
that is suitable for beds and borders as well as hanging baskets and containers
inside or outdoors!
Because there are so many types of geranium, it’s difficult
to choose which is the most popular type to add to your landscape.
The common or zonal geranium is typically sold as a
bedding plant. They are a compact plant, some having very decorative,
distinctly marked two and three colored leaves.
Ivy leaved geraniums are perfect for window boxes
and hanging baskets. Although flower petals are narrower and the blossoms less
dense than other cultivars, the ivy leaved geranium is an attractive vining
plant that can grow up to three feet long.
Scented geraniums are used for making tea, potpourris
and sachets. They are deceptively sweet and carry the fragrances of
lemon, apple, rose, nutmeg, and peppermint. Although the flowers are small and
some might say insignificant, the scented geranium is a wonderful way to add
fragrance to your patio, porch… or kitchen!
The mosquito geranium is also a scented geranium.
Even if you haven’t grown it, chances are you have smelled its insect
repelling scent. The mosquito geranium was hybrid especially for production
of oil of citronella and frequently is sold at nurseries as the mosquito plant.
Geranium flowers come in white and all shades of pink
and red. Many hybrids have bi-colored flowers and some hybrids bear
salmon colored flowers. Easy care, in addition to being a favorite addition
to your garden, geraniums also make an inexpensive and lovely gift for Easter,
Mother’s Day and other special spring occasions.
Other articles you may find interesting:
Garden
Fountains & Accessories
Hummingbirds
Five
Ways to Create a Healthy Home
Decorating
for Real Life and Real People
Linda is an author at Gardening Guides.
*The articles published on this site undergo our review process. We found
the information in this article to be very useful and informative. |
