Garden white geranium. Laconic beauty - garden Geranium. Proper sowing of geraniums when breeding from seeds: video

Such flowering plants include perennial street geranium or garden geranium. This plant has done well as indoor flowerpot, according to him they make up various beliefs and signs. Much less often this flower can be found in flower beds and flower beds. Although geranium itself is distinguished by excellent frost resistance and unpretentious care. And among the large variety of varieties, you can easily find the right one for you.

In this article, we will consider the features and description of perennial garden geraniums, and also learn about the most popular types and varieties of this crop. Let's talk about the main nuances of agricultural technology for growing geraniums in open ground.

Features and description of perennial garden geranium

Geranium garden perennial is a flowering plant that belongs to the genus Geraniaceae and the large family of the same name. Geranium should not be confused with pelargonium, which also belongs to this family, but to the genus Pelargonium. Geranium garden can be an annual, biennial and perennial plant. In this article, we will consider the features of planting and caring for perennial geraniums.

Garden geranium is native to Great Britain. It was here that the first and most basic varieties of this plant were bred. This became possible thanks to two scientists - A. Johnson and E. Bowles, who were the first to become interested in garden geraniums. After the English breeders, Dutch scientists became interested in breeding new varieties of geraniums, who contributed to the spread of this culture around the world.

Garden geranium was originally known for its medicinal leaves and antibacterial properties. The plant received such use in Ancient Greece, where Dioscorides as early as the first century AD. fixed the scientific name for the flower - geranium. In Greek, it means "crane". This name was fixed due to the similarity of the fruit of the plant with the beak of a crane. There are several more names of geraniums that can often be found in the everyday life of peoples. different countries. For example, in Germany this culture is called "stork nose", in England - "crane", in Bulgaria - "health resort". On the territory of Russia, the plant appeared in the 18th century and has since become widespread in landscape design.

Description of garden perennial geranium:

• Garden perennial geranium is a herbaceous flowering plant.
• Depending on the specific species and variety, geraniums may have rhizomes or tubers as their root system.
• The stem of this plant can grow 40-60 cm, while it branches well and creates beautiful and compact bushes that can hold their shape for a long time. It is this feature garden geranium appreciated by landscape designers.
• The entire stem is covered with palmately lobed or palmately dissected leaves, the shape of which depends on the particular variety of perennial geranium.
• The foliage is light green or dark green.
• The size of the leaves is also different, they can be both small and quite large.
• Perennial geranium flowers are located singly or two per stem, sometimes they can be collected in small inflorescences.
• The flower basket can be of various sizes, from 2.5 to 4.5 cm in diameter.
• The color of geranium flowers is so diverse that you can easily pick up suitable varieties for your area.
• Geranium garden has excellent frost resistance and unpretentious care.
• The flowering of the plant can last until the very cold.
• One of the features of garden geranium is its longevity and ability to resist diseases and pests.

A variety of species and varieties of garden perennial geranium

To date, there are more than 300 different species, as well as varieties of perennial geraniums, which have different colors of flowers, sizes of bushes and leaves. Let's take a closer look at the most common and popular types and varieties of garden geraniums.

Geranium perennial Balkan

• The natural habitat of this species of geranium is the territory of the Alps, the Carpathians and the Balkans.
• It has been used in culture since the 17th century.
• It has a rather thick and very branched rhizome, so very often this type of geranium is called large-rhizome.
• Differs in a compact and densely growing bush, reaching a height of 30 cm.
• The leaves are collected in basal rosettes and are attached to long petioles.
• The leaves are elongated, shiny, dark green in shape. In autumn, the foliage turns a bright red and golden color.
• Flowers are located on long peduncles that rise above the foliage.
• The color of flowers is red or purple, while the diameter of the basket can reach 3 cm.
• Flowering begins in June and lasts about a month.

Popular varieties:

• Variety "Spessart". This variety of geranium grows very quickly and is distinguished by white and pink inflorescences. The foliage changes color in autumn.
• Sort "Ingwersens variety". This type of plant has a very lush flowering. Flowers are pale pink.
• Variety "Czakor". Pleases with bright purple-red flowers, abundantly blooming on a bush.

Geranium perennial marsh

• In nature this species widely distributed in wetlands of Russia.
• This plant has a rhizomatous root system.
• The stalk of geranium rises to a height of up to 70 cm, branches very strongly.
• In the root zone, leaves are formed, which are seven-separate in shape. They are attached to the stem on long petioles.
• On the stem itself, the leaves are five-parted.
• At the very top of the stem there are two flower baskets up to 3 cm in diameter.
• The color of the flowers is purple.
• Flowering of perennial geranium begins in mid-June - early July.
• This species is known for its resistance to cold and undemanding care.

Popular varieties:

• Sort "Album". Differs in snow-white flower baskets up to 3 cm in diameter.

Geranium garden magnificent

• This type of plant has been used in culture for over a century.
• The plant is different rapid growth and compact bush form.
• The stem can reach 50 cm in height and create a large and highly branched bush.
• The entire stem is covered with five-parted leaves, slightly pubescent at the top. In autumn, the foliage changes color from green to orange-yellow.
• The flowers are light purple in color.

Popular varieties:

• Sort "Mrs Kendall Clark". The most popular variety of this type of geranium, which is distinguished by grayish-blue flowers with a slight pink tint.

Himalayan garden geranium

• The natural habitat is the territory of the Himalayas.
• It has a rhizome root system.
• The plant is shaped like a small bush with a strong and well-branched stem, which can reach a height of 30-60 cm.
• The leaves are arranged in a rosette at the very roots.
• The shape of the leaves is slightly rounded and pubescent, in diameter can reach 10 cm.
• On the stem are flower stalks with flower baskets up to 5 cm in diameter.
• The flowers are bright purple or blue with reddish veins on the petals.
• Flowering begins at the end of May and can last until autumn.
• This type of geranium is very decorative and will fit perfectly into any landscape design.

Popular varieties:

• Sort "Gravetye". This variety of geranium is distinguished by bright blue flower baskets with a purple tint in the center.
• Variety "Jonsons Blue". This variety is widely distributed throughout Europe. Boasts abundant flowering. The flowers are purple in color, and the plant itself can reach a height of 40-60 cm.

Geranium garden blood red

• The natural habitat of this species is the European part of Russia, Western and Southern Europe.
• The plant itself can reach a height of 60 cm and grows at the same level with the leaves. The shape resembles a small bush and has one distinguishing feature- spherical shape.
• The leaves are slightly rounded, dissected, light green in color. The leaves of this variety are wintering, turning reddish in autumn.
• The entire bush during flowering is strewn with fairly large, bright red flowers that can reach 4 cm in diameter.
• Flowering begins in June and lasts until August.
• This variety of geranium is long-lived. In one place, the bush can grow up to 15 years.

Popular varieties:

• Sort "Album". This variety blooms snow-white flower baskets in summer and yellow in autumn.
• Grade "Compactum". A low growing variety of geranium that is great for growing in containers.
• Sort "Nana". dwarf variety geranium, reaching a height of 10-15 cm. It blooms with bright pink inflorescences.

In addition to the above types of perennial garden geranium, the following can be noted: Georgian geranium, Dalmatian geranium, forest geranium, meadow geranium.

Propagation of garden perennial geraniums: the most common methods

Perennial geraniums can be easily diluted on their own. To do this, you can use one of several methods. Garden geranium is propagated by seeds, cuttings and dividing the bush. If you grow this amazing plant on your site, then you can watch how it reproduces beautifully by self-sowing. However, with this method, your crops will be randomly scattered around the site and you will not be able to control their location.

Seed propagation of garden geranium

• Seed propagation is the most time-consuming and lengthy process. When using it, most often the plant loses its varietal characteristics. Usually this method of reproduction is used by breeders.
• It is recommended to sow fresh seeds, as during storage they may lose their germination.
• Collecting garden geranium seeds is another serious problem. Seeds ripen quickly and scatter around the area almost immediately. And if you collect not yet ripened seeds, then their germination is significantly reduced.
• Therefore, to collect the seeds, prepare small pieces of cloth and wrap them around the geranium inflorescences. Thus, the ripened seeds will fall directly into the homemade bag.
• Seeds can be sown directly in open ground in August or just before winter. If you buy perennial geranium seeds in a store, then you need to sow them in April. A more reliable method would be to sow the seeds in pots or containers.
• To do this, prepare special containers.
• Next, fill them with a nutritious and fertile soil mixture, which should consist of peat and sand.
• Moisten the surface liberally and spread the garden geranium seeds over it.
• From above, the pot or container must be covered with glass or film.
• Further care of the seedlings consists in constant airing and moisturizing.
• After the seedlings have leaves, the glass is removed.
• After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots.
• If you sow the seeds in the spring in April, then the seedlings are planted in open ground the following spring.

Reproduction by division of the rhizome

• This method is the most common and simple and allows not only to breed young plants, but also to renew the old one.
• You can divide the rhizome in early spring and at the end of summer. Division in August is more acceptable, since the plant at this time is almost completely dormant. At this time, you can not be afraid to damage it.
• You need to carefully dig out an adult plant.
• Next, carefully check all the growth buds. The growth of young bushes depends on their condition. They should be dense, with no signs of rot and drying out.
• Gently shake the plant to loosen excess soil from the root system.
• After that sharp knife divide the rhizome of an adult bush into several parts. Make sure everyone has a renewal kidney.
• Prepare planting holes for young geranium bushes. To do this, add peat and compost to the selected place and fill the hole with them.
• Gently transplant all plants into the prepared holes.

Reproduction of geraniums by perennial cuttings

• This method is suitable for some types of perennial geraniums.
• To grow in this way, it is necessary to cut off several young shoots with leaves on them from an adult plant.
• Next, place these cuttings in a glass of water and place in a warm room.
• The cuttings will take root in about 2-3 weeks.
• After that, they can be planted in separate pots or immediately in open ground.
• You can not put the cuttings in the water for germination, but just process them special solution root former. And then immediately land on the garden.

Stages of preparation before planting garden perennial geraniums

To get a beautiful and bright garden geranium, it is important to carefully prepare. And for this you need to choose the right quality planting material and a place for planting. Let's consider all the stages in more detail.

Stage 1. Selection of planting material

• You can grow planting material yourself using seeds or rhizome division, or you can purchase it in specialized stores and agricultural companies that breed plants.
• You can purchase a rhizome with a large number of adventitious roots and a renewal bud. Such planting material must be purchased in February.
• In this case, carefully inspect the roots, they should be elastic and without visible damage.
• Until the moment the rhizome is planted in the garden, it must be stored in the refrigerator in a container with peat.
• You can purchase planting material with a rhizome and shoots with leaves. In this case, before planting in open ground, the plant is placed in a container with soil.
• Alternatively, you can buy a seedling in a pot in the store, which you can later plant on the site without any problems.
• When choosing garden geranium seedlings, consider the future planting site. Taller flowers are best planted in flower beds and flower beds, and dwarf species- as a frame for paths, curbs.

Stage 2. Choosing a place for planting garden geraniums

• Geranium perennial garden prefers to grow in well-lit places.
• However, make sure that occasionally the flower is in light partial shade.
• It is also important to choose a place on a small hill, as this plant does not tolerate close occurrence. ground water.
• Choose a planting site based on the variety of plant you have purchased.
• Tall varieties of garden geranium can be planted together with other flowers in flower beds and flower beds. Dwarf flowers 10-15 cm high suitable for terraces, tubs and framing garden paths.

Stage 3. Preparing the soil for planting

• Geranium does not require special preferences for the choice of soil, however, to obtain a lush and abundant flowering give preference to more fertile and nutritious.
• It is important that the soil is well-drained and permeable to air and moisture.
• Before planting the plant, carefully dig the selected area for about 2 bayonets of a shovel.
• In the process of working the site, add peat and compost to the soil.

Planting technology for perennial garden geraniums

• The middle or end of May is the optimal time for planting perennial garden geraniums in flower beds or flower beds.
• For a couple of days of planting, you can start preparing the soil. To do this, dig it well and loosen it, adding peat and sand, you can also scatter a little compost. Just do not add unrotted compost - this can be detrimental to the plant.
• After that, on the selected site, you need to prepare landing pits. Remember that garden geraniums have fairly long roots, so the holes must be appropriate. The depth of each planting hole should be at least 20 cm more than the length of the roots.
• If you are going to plant more than one plant, then be sure to leave enough space between the holes for the geranium to grow. It should be at least 25-30 cm.
• at the bottom of each landing pit it is necessary to place a layer of drainage to prevent stagnation of water at the root system of garden geraniums. Can be used as drainage broken brick, small stones or gravel.
• On the prepared drainage layer, pour a hill of soil mixture, which should consist of peat and sand.
• After that, place the rhizome of the plant on the hill and gently sprinkle it with sand.
• After planting, young plants must be watered abundantly.
• It is also important to mulch the soil around each new plant. This will keep them from drying out. Dry peat or sawdust can be used as mulch.

Agrotechnics for growing garden geraniums: secrets and nuances of care

Garden geranium is considered not a very whimsical plant, however, for their full growth and abundant flowering, it is still necessary to pay due attention to this culture.

Watering garden geraniums

Garden geraniums of all varieties prefer moderate but regular watering. Especially in the first months after planting, when the plant needs a lot of strength to take root in a new place. Also, watering is increased during dry periods. You will easily notice when your geraniums require enough moisture - their leaves will droop. But do not worry, after watering they will quickly recover. This plant does not need any spraying.

Loosening and mulching

After planting, the soil around the plant must be mulched to reduce the amount of loosening. To do without this care process, you can plant between the flowers of garden geraniums ground cover plants. In any case, geranium needs loose and light soil, so you can sometimes work the ground with a tool after watering. Periodically, you need to add mulch, which allows moisture to evaporate more slowly.

top dressing

Garden geranium practically does not need top dressing. It will be enough to add peat and compost during planting in open ground. If you wish to contribute nutrients, it is best to use complex mineral fertilizers. The optimal time for this process is the period of active vegetation and the middle of the bud formation period.

pruning

The process of caring for perennial geraniums also includes periodic pruning of wilted buds. Thus, you stimulate the formation of new ones and prolong the flowering of geraniums. In the autumn, yellowed leaves can be removed, but this action is not necessary, because most varieties of geraniums are winter green and winter well without pruning.

Transfer

Garden perennial geranium does not tolerate transplants well, usually it feels great in one place for 10 years. And only after this time you can do a plant transplant, but it is better to do this during the dormant period.

Disease and pest control

Geranium diseases:

• Bacterial rot. This disease appears as a result improper care. The signs are brown spots on leaves and stem. To combat this disease, it is necessary to remove severely affected plants and treat the rest with special preparations.
• Tomato wilt. Signs of this disease are spots in the form of rings. Used to fight chemicals. With a strong infection, it is better to completely remove the plant and burn it, and process the place of growth.

Pests:

• Aphid. To combat this pest, you can use special insecticides.
• Whiteflies. You can get rid of such insects with the help of drugs such as Iskra.
• Caterpillars. They are usually recommended to be collected by hand.

The use of perennial garden geraniums in landscape design

• Garden geranium is great for landscaping and decorating any area.
• The ideal place for these flowers are flower beds and flower beds, where geraniums can be placed both in the foreground and in background, it all depends on the specific variety and height of the plant.
• These flowers are also suitable for mixborders, where they can be grown along with other plants.
• If your site has an alpine slide, then you can safely plant perennial geraniums on it.
• Thanks to the compact and spherical shape These plants are great for framing garden paths and borders, as well as for a single planting.

Photo of perennial geranium in landscape design

You can more clearly see all the features of using garden geraniums in landscape design in the photos below.

Use in combination with other plants

Border framing

Original garden composition

Garden geranium is an amazing plant that can decorate any area, without requiring special efforts in its cultivation.

If you do not have time to grow seedlings of annual flowers every year, planting perennial garden geraniums in the country will significantly reduce the laboriousness of flower bed design. Some flower growers call geranium pelargonium. They are related but different cultures. Pelargonium is an annual plant, it is often grown in pots on the windowsill. Country cottage area lush geranium bushes with colorful clusters of bright medium-sized flowers will decorate, care for which even children and pensioners can afford. Each summer, the territory will be covered with a motley carpet from blood red to pale white.

Decorative varieties of geraniums are bred from the ancestors of this plant, living in meadows and clearings. The flower has adapted well to the conditions of the wild, it is unpretentious and tenacious. Breeders noticed that the bush has beautiful carved leaves, which themselves can serve as a decoration for a flower bed in the garden between flowering, and created a wide variety of varieties of ornamental plants. The color of the inflorescences is very diverse: blood-red, white, lilac - any, except for yellow and orange. You can plant one branch in the country, provide good care, and it will begin to grow and soon turn into a lush openwork island. There is one drawback - brittle stems, but scientists are working on this problem and have already created species whose beauty will not be spoiled by rain or strong wind.

Why among huge amount perennial ornamental plants many owners of summer cottages like garden geraniums? If you have the time, energy and desire, you can plant orchid roses and even completely exotic flowers accustomed to tropical climate. And a person who comes to the dacha only on weekends and is forced to pay attention to the garden, and the vegetable garden, and the flower garden in 2 days does not have the opportunity to provide difficult care for capricious pets. He needs decorative crops to:

1. For many years they grew in one place and did not require an annual planting.
2. They were not afraid of drought and did not require daily watering.
3. Well tolerated frosty winters.
4. They did not get sick and were not attacked by pests.
5. Didn't require weeding.
6. They bloomed for a long time, but had an attractive appearance even without flowers.

All these qualities are possessed by perennial garden geraniums. Simple care, endurance and beauty of the plant attract the sympathy of summer residents.

There are many varieties of decorative bush. Combining different varieties, you can create interesting composition covered with colorful clusters all summer. While the plants are still young and the leaves do not cover the entire area, the empty soil will help to fill the annual pelargonium. They need about the same care, and in appearance, pelargonium does not differ much from geraniums and will not violate the style of the flower garden.

Area for a flower garden

Garden geranium can grow in any soil, but to get lush inflorescences, you need to plant it in light, fertile soil. If your dacha is solid clay, add manure, peat or compost to it. This flower does not like transplants and can decorate the site for up to 10 years. If you want to see every year different design, complement the flower garden with geraniums with annuals, pelargonium is well suited.

When choosing varieties, pay attention to the living conditions of plants in your flower garden. From the variety of species, you can choose those that will feel great with the existing lighting and soil moisture.

• In sunny and dry places, you can plant Georgian red-brown and large-flowered geraniums.
• Humid and well-lit areas will grow Himalayan, splendid, and meadow geraniums.
• Shade and dry soil loves the Balkan and blood-red varieties.
• Wet shady areas are suitable for marsh, Himalayan and meadow varieties.

You can skillfully combine high and low varieties so that in one area the light-loving varieties are in the sun, and the shade-loving ones are in the shade. Above half a meter grows blood-red, meadow forest, swamp geranium. Dwarf varieties include Himalayan, large-rhizome and Dalmatian.

Geranium propagation

Planting material can be purchased at mall for gardeners. Inspect the rhizome, pay special attention to the place where the shoots will come from. If it is soft, rotten or dried out, do not take it. The root itself must be solid, many processes depart from it. Do not purchase specimens in winter that have already begun to wake up and develop buds. Such tubers need special care: they will have to be temporarily placed in a container with earth, and with the onset of heat they will be planted in open ground.

You can prepare the material for planting yourself. To do this, you need to collect seeds or separate a part from an adult plant. If you want, keep in mind that in some species they do not form - you will waste your time waiting. If different geraniums grow on the site, they can pollinate, and the colors that you expected will not appear on the flower bed at all.

To collect the seeds, wrap the pod in a paper bag. When the shell bursts, the grains will not fall to the ground, but will remain in the bag.

During vegetative propagation, a part of the bush with roots and a growth bud is separated. Before planting in a new place, inspect the fragment and cut off damaged and dried areas. In spring and autumn, you can cut a cutting from a plant you like and plant it in open ground. With vegetative propagation, the bushes will bloom in the same year, when sowing seeds, you will have to wait until next summer.

How to plant a geranium

Perennial garden geranium quickly develops long roots. Let the young shoots take root well and grow without interference at first: dig a deep hole so that about 20 cm of loose earth remains under the longest root. There should be at least 30 cm between the holes. Before planting, treat the rhizomes with a disinfectant solution, and the lower sections of the cuttings with growth stimulants.

Landing is carried out in early spring or autumn. Put a mound on the bottom fertile land, install the rhizome and distribute the underground shoots evenly over the ground elevation. Cover with earth and water to compact the soil. The first year there will not be very many leaves; they will not protect the flower garden from weeds. To avoid weeding, mulch the soil. Voids can be filled with pelargonium, asters or other annuals.

Deepen the cut cuttings into the soil by about 5 cm. Until the shoots take root, they need care. Cover the sprouts from frost with foil or nonwoven fabric. Make sure that the soil is moist, but the water does not stagnate. AT hot weather all plantings in the early days should be shaded from the scorching rays of the sun.

Easy flower care

Garden geranium came to our dachas from the wild and retained the ability to take care of itself on its own. The hosts will only need to help the plant a little if conditions become too unfavorable. Dense greenery does not allow weeds to break through, and while the bushes are still young, a layer of mulch will protect open areas, and extra grass will not grow there. Garden geranium is also resistant to drought, but in order for the bushes to be lush and the flowering to be plentiful, water the soil as it dries.

After flowering, you do not need to walk around with a knife and cut off dried inflorescences. Withered clusters fall under the lush leaves and do not spoil the flower bed with their unsightly appearance. You can leave flower stalks, but bursting pods will throw seeds to the ground, from which next year young shoots will grow. Decide for yourself what is more convenient for you to do: removing the seed pods that have appeared or thinning out the plantings.

Both pelargonium and garden geranium contain essential oils with a high concentration of phytoncides. This aroma is not liked by pests and pathogens. Bushes can be planted not only in a flower garden, but also in vegetable beds, and you do not have to protect edible crops from insects and various infections. Sometimes due to bad conditions, if not provide flowers proper care, they can be attacked by:

• Powdery mildew. Seeing white coating, cut off the affected parts and spray the flower garden with Bordeaux liquid.
• Gray rot. It is difficult to treat, destroy the diseased bush and make drainage in the flower bed or add hydrogel to the soil to reduce moisture.
• Spotting. If brown spots are noticed, treat the geranium with a fungicide.

Do not care for geraniums in extreme heat. At high temperature the release of essential oils increases, allergies or skin irritation may occur.

In the spring, when the plants in the country house begin to wake up, feed the geraniums nitrogen fertilizers. A month later, you can feed with a complex preparation, and during flowering, the bushes need phosphorus and potassium. Since tuberous and mountain species do not need abundant nutrition, keep the amount of fertilizer to a minimum. That's all the basic operations that include caring for perennial garden geraniums.

Conclusion

Garden geranium can grow outdoors for up to 10 years, unlike its annual relative, pelargonium. The flower is not demanding on the composition of the soil, if you choose varieties in accordance with the illumination, it will grow well both in the sun and in the shade. Geranium is not needed complex care, the plant winters well without shelter. Essential oils repel pests from the flower garden. A low, large-rhizome geranium can grow on vegetable garden protecting garden crops.

Perennial garden geranium is not only decorative, but also useful plant. It is used in traditional medicine and in the perfume industry. If you put the leaves in jam, mold will not appear in the jar. All summer the site will be enlivened by a magnificent white, blood red, pink and lilac composition. The decoration of the flower beds in the garden are and bright inflorescences, and lush openwork leaves.

Geranium is a very interesting plant. Also in Ancient Egypt, Greece was aware of the healing qualities of the plant.
Geranium in the garden is a perennial shade-loving plant, just like lily of the valley.

Geranium leaves have bactericidal properties, and thus disinfect the surrounding air.

You can grow this plant not only in your home, but also on garden plot.

Types of geranium

Previously, geraniums were grown not as an ornamental plant, but as a plant with medicinal properties and a special aroma of leaves.

Ornamental varieties of garden geranium first appeared in the UK.

Cultural perennial species and hybrids of garden geraniums with large beautifully carved leaves and bright flowers have been bred.
More than fifty different species are grown in the gardens of Russia: winter-hardy varieties in the form of perennials and heat-loving varieties of geraniums, as annual crops.

Winter-hardy ornamental varieties successfully withstand the winter in the middle zone of the country.
annual crops dug up, planted in flower pots and they survive the winter in the house.

Geranium garden - compact dense bushes with beautiful abundant flowering and openwork leaves. The bushes of the plant grow in a dense carpet, have different sizes, various colors of flowers.

These flowers will fit well into the design of an alpine slide and borders or mixborders, you just need to choose the right color shade.

This modest plant is simply indispensable for creating flower beds that are now fashionable, imitating a natural rock overgrown with flowers or a natural-looking meadow.

Garden geraniums can be divided into tall ones above 50 cm and short ones from 25 to 50 cm.

Tall geranium species:

• Bolotnaya. Undemanding plant up to 60 cm, grows well in damp places, blooms in June - July with purple-red flowers. The leaves are large, beautiful, seven-parted on long petioles. Popular variety: Geranium palustre.

• Georgian. Popular in the gardens of the country, very unpretentious. The plant is tall, grows up to 85 cm, rounded gray leaves on long cuttings turn red in autumn, purple flowers are collected in umbellate inflorescences. This variety is very fond of the sun and good nutrient soil. A large bush with abundant flowering looks like a lush bouquet purple flowers. Often the bush is grown singly. Variety ‘Johnson’s Blue’ with small light purple flowers.
• Gorgeous. Bushes up to 50 cm with light purple flowers and beautiful, reddening leaves in autumn. Does not form seeds, reproduces only by division. Used in mixed beds. Most famous variety Mrs. Kendall Clark "- with lush flowers of a grayish-gray color with a pink tint.

• red-brown. The variety is decorative because of the beautiful green to frost leaves and small dark brown flowers. It can grow up to 80 cm. Popular varieties are ‘Spring Time’, ‘Samabor’.

Undersized types of geraniums:

• Himalayan. Height no more than 30 cm, large flowers of bluish color with reddish veins. Highly long term flowering from May to late summer. Compact small bush form and long flowering allow you to successfully use this variety in rockeries and borders. Varieties: "Gravetye" with blue flowers, "Jonson's Blue" with lilac-blue, "Plenum" with double flowers.
• Dalmatian. One of the lowest varieties, 10 cm high, forms a dense cover of bushes with rounded graceful leaves. It blooms with bright pink flowers of medium size 3.5 cm from June to September. Loves the sun, doesn't need frequent watering. Popular variety ‘Roseum’ with pink flowers, ‘Album’ with white.

• large-rhizome. These are low bushes of 30 cm have a very thick and long root. It covers the ground tightly, this geranium is good in the foreground in flower beds, rockeries. The flowers are white-pink, the leaves are a beautiful reddish-golden color in autumn. Likes a sunny place. Varieties: "Spessagt", "Ingwersen's Variety", "Insversen".
• Ashy. It has the following varieties: Ballerina (ballerina), Purpureum. Pyrenean. This plant is 30 centimeters high, can grow in shady place, blooms for a long time, almost all summer, starting in July. This plant has large leaves 8-10 cm wide, flowers are small up to 1.5 cm in the circumference of a pure white color. Able to survive the winter without shelter.
• Geranium Endris a. Plant of medium height 40-50 cm with large pink flowers 30 cm in diameter and evergreen leaves on a long petiole. Varieties: `Betty Catchpole` - with pink flowers with narrow petals, `Beholder`s Eye` - with dark pink flowers.

Reproduction of garden geranium

Perennial geraniums in the garden can grow in the garden for more than ten years. After this period, the bushes need to be rejuvenated: in early spring, dig up, cut off old rhizomes and plant young roots with good buds in a new place.

The plant will quickly take root, start up new roots. In autumn, breeding can also be carried out in August - September.

It is difficult and time consuming to grow geraniums with seeds, and there is no guarantee that they will last. best qualities of this variety, but almost all types of geraniums can reproduce by self-sowing. Seedlings begin to bloom in a year.

Weeds do not grow under tightly closed geranium branches. These flowers never get sick with anything, have a special smell, the essential oils of the plant scare away all pests from themselves and from nearby plants.

It is believed that geranium is a determinant of the quality of life of family members, both ideal and material. It is useful for people suffering from insomnia, heart disease, hypertension, intestinal diseases, osteochondrosis, sciatica, it also helps to normalize pressure, reduce pain in otitis media.

Geranium (lat. Geranium) in everyday life was called the crail. Gorgeous colorful plants are rightfully considered universal. Perennial and frost-resistant, not delivering special trouble once planted, shade tolerant and drought tolerant, they even reproduce on their own. At the same time, not only flowers are the decoration of the garden, decorative and lush leaves.

Description

Often geraniums are called plants that are familiar on home windowsills, namely, pelargoniums; they can only be in the garden during the warm season. Geranium winters quite calmly in the ground.

This is a separate genus of the geranium family. It is represented by hundreds of varieties of herbs and shrubs around the world. About 400 species of annuals, biennials, perennials which are ubiquitous in temperate climates. The plant is well known experienced gardeners and even newbies.

Geranium or crail

Spectacular appearance is created by noticeable leaves and bright inflorescences. The leaves are located on long petioles, dissected in various ways, in shape they can be palmately lobed, palmately divided, pinnate. Most species have pubescent, soft-haired leaves, the glandular hairs of which are fragrant.

Large right flowers consist of a 5-leafed calyx and a corolla with round petals, equally spread flat. Peduncles bear from one to three flowers. Their coloration is the most diverse, white, purple and blue-violet tones predominate, the scarlet color is not typical.

The structure of geranium (using the example of red-brown geranium)

Species popular in floriculture

On the territory of Russia there are 40 species of geraniums. In horticulture, 12 southern European species with numerous cultivated varieties are most popular.

There are high (from 50 cm) and low forms of geraniums (up to 50 cm).

The most adapted to the climatic conditions of the middle zone, the types of geraniums are distinguished by a variety of properties and characteristic features.

• Evergreen species: G. blood-red, G. red-brown.
• Species with original leaf color: G. large-rhizome, G. small-stamen, G. Roberta, G. Georgian.
• Light-loving species: G. Himalayan, G. magnificent, G. Georgian, G. Renard, G. flat-petal, G. large-rhizome, G. small-stamen.
• Shade-tolerant species: G. marsh, G. blood-red, G. meadow.
• Shade-loving species: G. forest, G. Roberta, G. red-brown.
• Drought-resistant species: G. ash, G. Renard, G. Dalmatian, G. large-rhizome.

Photogallery of species

Cultivation and care

Different species begin to bloom at different times, it is desirable to take this diversity into account in terms of planting geraniums in the garden and in the flower bed:

• At the end of May - G. forest, G. Himalayan, G. large-rhizome;
• In mid-June - G. Georgian, G. small-stamen, G. Roberta, G. blood-red;
• In early July - G. magnificent, G. marsh, G. meadow, G. Renard;
• At the end of July - G. ashy.

Ash Geranium

flowering period for early species does not exceed 30 days, on average, lush inflorescences flaunt 30-40 days. It is recommended to plant garden geraniums in islands - several bushes nearby. Most cultivated varieties of geraniums can grow for more than 10 years in one place, without requiring transplantation, division, although signs of aging, in the form of dying off the middle of the bush, appear as early as 6-8 years.

Winter-hardy perennials are more suitable for the garden, heat-loving ones are used as annuals or grown in room conditions.

Geranium is unpretentious, but, nevertheless, for successful growth and abundant flowering, it needs to be created optimal conditions for development. Caring for geraniums is quite simple, you need to follow simple rules:

• Infrequent but abundant watering;
• Moderately nutritious soil;
• Regular feeding;
• Quality drainage;
• Timely removal of inflorescences.

Geranium large-rhizome

It is advisable to start by choosing a place where geraniums will grow. Geranium is very sun-loving and tolerates direct sunlight well, so it is preferable to choose a sunny, bright place, but partial shade is also quite suitable. Geraniums bloom more magnificently during periods with consistently warm springs and hot summers. At the same time, this plant is quite cold-resistant, it survives frosts in harsh winters, in early spring, delighting with the first leaves.

There are almost no requirements for the soil, with the exception of good water permeability, stagnant water is unacceptable. When planting geraniums in open ground, it is very desirable to protect the plants in advance from the possible proximity of groundwater. Irrigation is especially important for initial stage growth and prolonged drought. Geranium signals a lack of water with drooping leaves, which quickly recover after watering. Loose, well-drained, fertile soils are highly desirable. Each type of geranium has its own preferences for soil acidity - most prefer neutral, slightly acidic and acidic. There are also calcephiles: Dalmatian, ashy, blood-red, Renard's geranium.

The abundance of watering is determined by the time of year: in summer, in spring, the plant needs abundant moisture, especially if the soil often dries up; in winter and autumn, soil moisture should be moderate. The main thing during this period is to keep the root system from waterlogging. Watering cold water can lead to disease, against the background of root rot. The plant is considered drought-resistant, so it is better to dry the geranium slightly than to pour it. Stagnant moisture is not terrible only marsh geraniums. On heavy, clay soils, varieties of geranium grow successfully - meadow, knotty. peat soil black-eyed geranium is suitable.

Consequences of insufficient watering of geraniums

Weeding is necessary in early spring, before the mass appearance of leaves. Periodically, it is required to loosen the soil and fertilize with a complex of mineral elements. Withering parts quickly die off, timely sanitary pruning is periodically necessary.

According to the growing conditions, the preferences of different types of geraniums vary greatly, so for the garden it is enough to choose a few suitable species and ensure they are properly cared for.

Blood red geranium, 'Vision Pink' variety

Wintering

Although most species are southern plants They are quite cold hardy. In varieties with wintering leaves (blood-red and red-brown geraniums), in the most severe frosts, leaves can die off, which grow back in spring, and flowering is still plentiful.

Geranium does quite well in winter outdoors without shelter. In autumn, after wilting and drying, above-ground shoots and leaves should be carefully completely removed by placing them in compost pit. Good results gives mulching with a thick layer using organic matter - garden compost, chips, bark.

Pruning geraniums after flowering

reproduction

For geraniums, seed and vegetative propagation are used. Varietal geraniums are preferably propagated vegetatively.

Garden species are propagated by seeds relatively rarely. This is due to certain features: the quality seed, the complexity of the reproduction process. It is difficult to collect seeds on your own due to the peculiarities of their full ripening - it is difficult to catch the moment of final ripening, they are suddenly scattered naturally.

When growing geraniums from seeds, sowing is done before winter or in April. After harvesting in August, the seeds can be immediately sown in the soil freshly picked, so that the seedlings have time to form before the onset of frost. It is even more reliable to sow the seeds before winter in the ground, seized by frost, in which case they will germinate in the spring at the first favorable conditions. In May, friendly shoots appear, these seedlings bloom only the next year.

Geranium cuttings

Seeds purchased in stores can be sown in the spring in greenhouse conditions in containers for seedlings, with a mandatory pick. Seedlings appear quite quickly, they are grown, and already formed bushes are planted in a permanent place. Because in further plant may stay for a long time permanent place without dividing or transplanting, at least 50 cm is left between the bushes, taking into account the growth rate.

Vegetative reproduction eliminates the crossing of varieties, as well as unnecessary labor costs. Propagation of geraniums by cuttings is used more often. Covering, the use of phytohormones is not necessary. For planting, small containers are used, filling them with sand from below, a nutrient mixture (turf and humus) is added from above. Watering is moderate, without overflow or overdrying of the substrate.

Reproduction by layering allows you to get a viable new plant with an independent root system by the fall. With this method, bent geranium shoots are placed in small grooves and simply sprinkled with earth.

Garden geraniums are easily propagated by rooting cuttings.

The number of plants can be increased by dividing the bush and rhizome. An adult bush is dug up, divided into parts, which are immediately planted in a prepared place. If there is a need, the divided rhizomes can not be planted, but stored in cool conditions, using containers with sand, until spring.

Diseases and pests

Geranium can be affected by pests - aphids, whiteflies, various mites, etc. Biological insecticides are effective against them. It is impossible to be limited to one processing, because. drugs do not act on all stages of insects. After 5-7, re-spraying is required.

Insufficient watering causes yellowing of the leaves. Stems bare at the bottom indicate a lack of light. Geranium is susceptible to diseases of a fungal nature: brown spot and powdery mildew. At an early stage, treatment with biofungicides is effective. In case of severe damage, the plant is best removed and burned.

Geranium hybrid in partnership with oak sage

Use in landscape design

Garden geranium is surprisingly versatile and enjoys the well-deserved love of flower growers, it combines perfectly with many ornamental grasses, flowers. Often used as a frame or background element.

Geraniums easily fill voids in flower beds, for example, among roses, decorate decorative masonry, with its help create bright various compositions on any site. She is good at natural areas garden, rockeries, alpine slide, among evergreen shrubs, large-leaved plants (bergenia, rogersia, hosts).

Garden geranium in the landscape

A rare combination of excellent shade tolerance and drought tolerance of many species allows them to fill the most problematic areas of the garden with dry shade. Geraniums, thanks to their strong, tenacious rhizomes, are excellent for decorating areas with a noticeable slope. Unpretentious geranium is indispensable in easy care gardens.

Medicinal properties have leaves and roots of geranium. Healing and its juice. Geranium is used for insomnia, neurasthenia, treat heart disease and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic agents are widely used. It is known that geranium secretes bactericidal substances that have a detrimental effect on microbes.

In nature, it grows in the subalpine meadows of the Alps, the Balkans, and the Carpathians. It was introduced into culture in the 17th century.

Perennial. It differs from other geraniums in its long, thick, up to 1.5 cm in diameter, rhizome, branching along the soil surface. Due to the rapidly growing rhizome, the large-rhizome geranium forms a dense, closed thicket. Rosettes of basal leaves extend from the rhizome on long, up to 20 cm, petioles. The leaves are oblong-rounded, 6-10 cm wide, divided into 5-7 lobes, coarsely serrated along the edge, brilliant green. The stems rise above the thicket of leaves by 5-10 cm. Numerous bright purple or reddish flowers up to 3 cm in diameter are located on umbrella-shaped peduncles. Geranium blooms in June and blooms for 20-30 days. Seeds ripen in late July-August.

The whole plant is hairy and very fragrant. A thicket of geraniums on a hot sunny day smells of the south, mountains, even if it grows in wooded Russia. The appearance of the thicket is very attractive all season, sometimes the leaves even overwinter.

Geranium macrorrhizum "Variegatum" Photo by Olena Ukleina	Geranium macrorrhizum Photo EDSR.	Geranium macrorrhizum "Album" Photo of Lazebnaya Elena
Geranium macrorhizum "Pindus" Photo by M.Barbuhatti	G. macrorrhizum `Spessart` Photo by Andrey Ganov	G. macrorrhizum `Ingverse Variety` Photo by Andrey Ganov

A long-lived and trouble-free plant. It is a creeping, ground-covering shrub up to 30 cm tall. The leaf is palmately complex, deeply dissected, large, bright green, sticky and fragrant. Turns brick red in autumn. Inflorescences from whitish-pink to carmine, thyroid. It blooms in June, often again closer to autumn.

Varieties:
"Spessagt"- white-pink inflorescences. It grows wildly, changes color in autumn, differs in wintering leaves.
"Ingwersen's Variety"- pale pink inflorescences, bloom luxuriantly .
"Inverse"- a variety with purple-pink flowers.
"Czakor"- purple-red inflorescences, grows in a bush.
"Variegata"- a variety with striped leaves, creamy yellow stripes. This geranium is propagated by segments of rhizomes with a bud. The most auspicious time end of August - beginning of September. You can also use seed propagation. When sown before winter, seedlings appear in spring and bloom in the second year. This geranium grows well in dry, well-drained, lime-rich soils. Prefers sunny habitats. In partial shade, the leaves become larger, the plant grows faster, but does not bloom so abundantly.