Geranium garden species and varieties. garden geranium. A variety of species and varieties of garden perennial geranium

Many gardeners like perennial garden geraniums: planting and caring for this plant in the open field does not cause difficulties. Its openwork greenery and delicate colors of flowers decorate the garden from early summer to late autumn.

Rounded bushes with carved leaves complement the beauty of a flower garden, flower bed or country lawn, without requiring frequent watering and annual transplants. Even busy gardeners can grow outdoor pelargonium on the site, planting seeds once, resembling the shape of a crane's beak.

Garden perennial geranium is known to lovers of perennials under other names: street pelargonium, crail, stork nose, health resort. This drought-resistant and winter-hardy herbaceous shrub belongs to the Geraniaceae family, its homeland is Great Britain. It was there that the main varieties were bred. Your fame street flower got thanks healing properties leaves known to the ancient Greeks.

A flowering perennial, as it grows, forms a lush bush of openwork light green leaves, laid very tightly. Weeds have no chance to break through such a veil. The leaves can also be variegated, with rounded or dissected edges.

The flowering is lush, the flowers, depending on the variety, are small, large, even terry. The color of the inflorescences is white, pink, yellow and purple, the flowers themselves reach a diameter of 2 to 5 cm, have 5 petals. Their specific aroma during flowering repels insect pests.

On a note. In nature, the plant can be found in meadows, in the mountains, under the canopy of trees. AT landscape design garden geranium is used to decorate alpine slides, rockeries, slopes and natural garden areas.

Species, varieties

Garden geranium, unpretentious to growing conditions, depending on the species, can be tall or short, differs not only in size, but also in the color of flowers. You can choose a shrub suitable for a flower garden or rockery by choosing from several varieties. The most popular with gardeners are the following perennial varieties street pelargonium.

Balkan (large-rhizome). It has a thick branched rhizome, the bush grows up to 30 cm. The leaves are long, dark green, turning yellow-red in autumn. Peduncles are long, inflorescences are red or purple color. In the photo below you can close-up consider the shape of the flowers.

Georgian. Unpretentious herbaceous shrub growing in one place up to 10 years. Abundant flowering, inflorescences of a bright purple hue.
Bolotnaya. Differs in medium-sized purple flowers, branched erect stems 50-70 cm high. The bush remains compact, blooms all summer. In August, small seeds ripen, the variety propagates by self-sowing.
Blood red. Differs in abundant flowering, bright red flowers reach a diameter of 4 cm. A spherical bush grows up to 60 cm, the leaves are light green, with a dissected pattern, they turn red in autumn. Flowering lasts all summer. The photo shows a blood-red pelargonium bush in all its glory.

Himalayan (large-flowered). Bushes reach a height of 30-50 cm, leaves with rounded edges grow up to 10 cm long. Flowers are large, about 5 cm in diameter, purple, with bright reddish veins.
Gorgeous. Large-flowered species, blooms from May to June blue-purple flowers. The height of the bush is 40-60 cm, in autumn the green leaves turn red.
Sort "Summer sky". An unusually spectacular variety with large double flowers blue color, about 3 cm in diameter. The flowering is abundant, the bush reaches a height of up to 50-60 cm.
Lugovaya. It looks like a dense bush, reaches a height of 120 cm. Purple-blue flowers appear in mid-summer, do not flourish until autumn. The close-up photo shows the blooming of the health resort on a grassy meadow.

Site selection and growing conditions

Perennial street geranium, depending on the variety, prefers to grow in different areas:

Himalayan, magnificent and meadow love the sun, wet places;
marsh prefers to grow in partial shade and at high humidity;
Georgian, red-brown and large-flowered prefer well-dried areas;
Balkan blooms in the shade, grows on dry soil.

Choosing a flower garden different varieties outdoor pelargonium, you should consider the conditions suitable for all varieties of this unassuming flower.

Lighting and location. The health resort prefers open and well-lit places, with slight shade in the strongest heat. The site is better to choose a dry, well-drained. root system the plants grow well in breadth, so the flower bed should be spacious, and the distance between the bushes should be at least 30 cm.
Temperature. The plant tolerates frosts in winter and sudden changes in temperature in the warm season. Does not die during summer cooling or drought, does not require shelter during wintering.
Air and humidity. Flowers are not demanding on watering, they tolerate high humidity after rains and prolonged drought. You don't need to spray them. However, long stems are brittle, so bushes should be planted in places protected from wind and heavy rain.
Priming. Outdoor geranium is undemanding to the soil, but for abundant and long flowering it is better to prepare loose, well-ventilated fertile soil, having previously fertilized it before planting. You can add a little humus, rotted manure or moss to the flower bed.

Preparing for landing

Planting material (rhizome or sprout in a pot) can be purchased at any gardening store starting in February. Seeds from a faded bush are easy to collect in the fall on their own, storing in a paper bag after thorough drying. You can also divide the overgrown root in the spring when transplanting the plant.

When preparing planting material, several rules should be considered:

the purchased rhizome must be solid, with several adventitious roots;
near the point of growth on the spine there should be no damage and signs of rot;
material sold in containers with sawdust and peat must be stored in the refrigerator before planting;
it is better to take seedlings not with an open, but with a closed root system

It is important to know! The rhizome bought in the package should be planted in peat in February-March, then placed in the basement or underground, where the temperature does not rise above 1-2 degrees Celsius. Every 2 weeks the soil will have to be slightly moistened until weather will not allow to plant a root on the street.

Planting process

Planting geraniums in the garden is within the power of even a novice gardener - the process does not require compliance with any complicated rules. You just need to remember about the long roots of the plant, digging holes about 20 cm deep. It is better to leave a distance of 20-30 cm between the bushes when planting.

They begin the planting procedure by preparing the site and the soil, digging up the ridge and pouring a layer on top fertile land. Rhizomes are laid out on top, sprinkled with soil, watered. No further action is required. Garden geranium does not tolerate transplanting well, it grows in a flower bed from 4 to 12 years, therefore permanent site for landing should be chosen thoroughly.

You can also propagate outdoor pelargonium in the garden by seeds and vegetatively. When choosing seed planting material, the following steps are performed.

They prepare the soil by loosening it, fertilizing it with organic matter, or buying ready-made soil in the store
Pour the soil into boxes or small containers.
Make shallow grooves.
Seeds collected from some varieties (some species reproduce by self-sowing) are sown in the soil, lightly sprinkled with earth.
Water the soil, cover the container with a film.
After the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is removed, the seedlings are regularly watered.
When 2-3 leaves appear, plants are planted in separate cups and pots.
planted in open ground in the spring after the establishment of positive temperatures.

Bushes planted with seeds bloom only the next summer, and varietal characteristics are not always preserved. When planting in a vegetative way, the algorithm of actions changes.

In the spring, part of the stems is separated from the bush.
The cuttings are planted in the prepared soil, pouring drainage into the bottom of the holes - broken brick, expanded clay or pebbles, on top - a mixture of peat and sand.
Water the soil.
A month later, they are fed with organic matter.

Rules for the care and cultivation in the garden

Caring for garden pelargonium in the open field includes several regular or one-time procedures.

Watering. The plant needs moderate watering at intervals of once a week or as the soil dries out. The bush is watered abundantly only when planting and transplanting, or during a drought, when the leaves lose their elasticity and droop. Water is poured from a watering can under the root, spraying is not performed.
Top dressing. Garden geranium responds well to the introduction of mineral and organic fertilizers. Most varieties in the spring need to be fed with nitrogen, and after a month - with any complex composition.
Loosening, mulching. It is not necessary to loosen the ground under the bushes, a layer of mulch is enough when planting from peat, humus or sawdust mixed with foliage and manure. There is no need for weeding either - weeds do not grow under dense layer foliage.
Pruning. During cultivation during the summer - not required. Cut the stems and dried leaves only in the fall, when the plants are prepared for wintering.
Transfer. Transplant perennials in autumn or spring. In the process of transplantation, if necessary, the overgrown bushes are separated with a shovel, covered with earth and watered abundantly. Usually transplantation is required for garden geraniums in 5-7 years, when the bushes spread around the garden, occupying places not intended for them.

Wintering

garden geranium in middle lane Russia winters well without additional shelter. The best covering material for bushes in winter is snow. However, it is still worth preparing landings for wintering.

A month before the onset of autumn, mineral and nitrogen fertilizing is stopped.
After flowering and wilting of the leaves, the stems are cut off by one third. Best to prune before frost.
The base of the bush is mulched with manure, peat or fallen leaves.
After the first snowfall, the plantings are covered with snow.

Growing Features

Garden geranium, with improper cultivation and non-compliance with the conditions of care, immediately gives the gardener signals to its appearance. With insufficient watering, the green leaves begin to turn yellow and fall off, with an excess of moisture they become lethargic, and the stems rot. If the branches are bare, and the lower leaves fall off, the plant does not have enough light.

The peculiar aroma of the flower, caused by the content in the leaves and stems of a large amount essential oils, repels pests, protects plantings from fungal attack. But sometimes, with a long drought or prolonged rains, geraniums still get sick. Below are the main diseases and pests, as well as ways to deal with them.

Powdery mildew. The affected leaves and parts of the stems are removed, the plant is treated with a Bordeaux mixture.
Gray rot. It occurs due to prolonged waterlogging of the soil, most often the plant is destroyed, but sometimes it is saved by treating the root with fungicides and then transplanting to a drier place.
Brown spotting. Infected bushes are treated with any fungicide.
Spider mite. Appears during a drought, fight it soapy water or suitable insecticides.
Aphids and caterpillars. Destroy insects with any insecticide, treatment with soapy liquid or decoction of herbs.

Observing simple rules planting and care, can be grown in the garden or on suburban area plentifully flowering bushes street pelrgonium, pleasing to the eye with pink, white or purple flowers. Such undersized or high landings will look great in rockeries, single groups or mixed flower beds, against the background of annuals and perennials.

You can plant garden geraniums in mixborders, use as borders, combine with marigolds, ground covers, roses and green spaces.

Here are some tips for gardeners on how to use perennials in landscape design:

as border plant geranium magnificent will look best, shading the beauty garden paths and flower beds;
next to the bushes, you can plant a blood-red pelargonium;
together with ground covers, varieties such as the Malay and large-rhizome health resort are planted;
Dalmatian and ash pelargonium are planted on rocky hills;
together with the plant, peonies, cuffs, low roses, astilba, bluebells or ferns are often grown in flower beds.

Garden geranium or crail is a plant that is a close relative of pelargonium. It is considered one of the most unpretentious and beautiful plants for the garden. Geranium bushes are round in shape and have flowers of a cold shade. The carved leaves immediately attract attention, they are bright green in summer and crimson red in autumn.

In the photo - Balkan garden geranium

Agrotechnics of growing a plant is simple. Due to this, even beginners can decorate with the help of his flower beds. Perennial homeland - Great Britain. It was brought to Russia in the 18th century.

Perennial geranium belongs to the Geraniaceae family. Its main feature is the ability to grow in open ground. The flowers of the plant can be painted in purple, white, pink, red. The bushes grow beautifully and form a thick carpet.

Geranium garden magnificent

Considering the description of geranium, it is worth noting that its leaves may have pointed or rounded edges. The diameter of the flowers is about 3.5 cm, there are 5 petals. Bushes can be both low and high. Some varieties of plants tolerate strong wind and rain.

Main types

Various types of geraniums can grow in open ground. They differ in size and color of buds, requirements for care. It is important to know how to choose the right type of plant for a particular area. The most popular types of plants are:

Geranium garden blood-red variety "Max Fry"

View	Short description
Large-flowered or Himalayan.	The height of the bush can reach 30-50 cm. The leaves reach 10 cm, the buds are large - 5 cm, have reddish or purple veins. Caring for the varieties of the presented species is not easy.
Bolotnaya	Grows up to 70 cm in height. The flowers are purplish-colored the average size. The plant blooms in summer period
Lugovaya	Reaches a height of 1.2 meters. The bush is dense, the buds are purple. Flowering occurs in mid-summer
Gorgeous	In height, the bush grows up to half a meter. Buds can be brick-colored or purple. Most bright representative species - cultivar Mrs. Kendall Clark
Balkan	A distinctive feature is a long rhizome. The flowers are purple or red. In height, the bush grows up to 30 cm. The most famous varieties species - Czakor and Inversen
Georgian	Great option for those who do not have much time to care for the plant. There are many flowers on the bush, their color is purple. The life span of geraniums without transplants is up to 12 years
blood red	The buds of the presented species resemble roses. Perennial can live up to 15 years. In order for geranium to bloom well, it should be planted in partial shade, on neutral soil.

How is reproduction

Geranium can be propagated different ways. The division of the bush, cuttings, and planting seeds are actively practiced. On the site, the plant can also reproduce by self-sowing with the help of ants. In this case, the plant quickly spreads through the garden.

How to propagate geranium seeds

Such a method as growing from seeds is laborious. In this case, there may be some differences between the grown plant, in comparison with its parents. This is how breeders get new varieties. How to propagate geranium seeds?

First you need to collect planting material. To do this, gauze bags are put on the flowers.
Planting seeds in the ground is carried out before winter, or when summer ends. If the seeds were purchased at the store, it is recommended to sow them in April in special boxes.
Containers are taken, they are filled with sand, peat.
The soil is moistened. The seeds are placed on it.
To create a greenhouse effect, a film is put on the container.
After that, in order to get seedlings, you need to periodically ventilate the seeds and moisten the soil.
When the plant has 3 true leaves, you can plant it in a separate pot.

Landing in open ground for air is carried out in the spring, next year.

How to grow geraniums the right way

How to care for a plant? Geranium does not present high demands to the soil, but it is better that the soil is well ventilated. It is recommended to add organic matter to the clay substrate. It will be good to saturate the soil with manure or peat.

Caring for geraniums will not take you much time. Place for the plant should choose a well-lit. However, some species can feel great in partial shade. The need for bushes in moisture is considered average.

Georgian garden geranium

When to land

The timing of planting the plant is the beginning of autumn or early spring. First of all, you should prepare a flower bed. It is dug up, adding moss or humus. Then the rhizome of the bush is divided with a knife, and the fragments are planted in the ground.

It remains only to water the flower bed and mulch it. Between the bushes, when planting, it is worth leaving about 30 cm. Then in the future it will not be necessary to replant them. After a year, the remaining gaps will already be filled.

Nuances of care

There is no need to loosen the soil and weed the landing site. You don't need to prune the geranium either. Her inflorescences fall off on their own, while the decorative effect of the bush is not disturbed. You can plant a plant in a flower bed with other flowers.

Until the geranium has formed a thick carpet in the garden, organic matter should be added to the soil and mineral fertilizers. Watering the bushes should be throughout the summer. The plant is not susceptible to pests and diseases. Moreover, its smell repels a large number of insects.

Pests and diseases

Diseases in geraniums are very rare. It mainly suffers from tomato wilt and bacterial rot. If these infections are noted, brown rings or spots appear on the bushes. To get rid of diseases, the foci of their appearance are treated with solutions containing copper.

If the infection has spread, the bushes should be cut back. The tops in this case are burned. The soil is treated with copper sulphate.

Pests that can attack the plant are caterpillars, aphids and whiteflies. They appear quite rarely. To get rid of them, it is worth treating the bushes with a decoction of grass or an insecticide.

Preventive actions

Prevention of geranium diseases is carried out in the spring. At this time, they are brought under the bushes nitrogen fertilizers. After the presented procedure, after 30 days, complex top dressing can be carried out. When the bush blooms, potassium and phosphorus are added.

Important! Fertilizers need to be added to the soil in a small amount. That's all! These measures will help to avoid the occurrence of diseases.

So, garden geranium is characterized by the fact that it can grow on the street and feel great for about 10 years. Bushes are easy to care for and can be grown both in the shade and in a sunny area. They hibernate without shelter, and caring for them is simple.

Use in landscape design

You can plant geraniums in the garden around a tree. Another win-win combination is planting a plant with a rose. In this case, the geranium should be placed as a background. The plant also looks good in rockeries.

The low geranium can be planted in the garden in containers. You can also make a perennial border by planting it near the path. Next to the geranium, in this case, it is worth planting thyme or sedum. Caring for such a border will be very simple.

How to choose the right variety

In landscape design, such perennial varieties as Patricia and Rosanna are actively used. Patricia blooms all summer and is unpretentious in content. Its flowering occurs in the second half of June. The shape of the variety bush is a hemisphere.

Hybrid Roseanne is considered one of the most the best forms. It blooms for a long time and has large inflorescences. Geranium smells very good. The height of the bush reaches 40 cm.

Video "Unpretentious plants for the garden - Rosanna geranium"

The smell of garden geranium repels many insects. That is why you can plant it even in the beds. Bushes are also actively used in landscape design. Plants with lilac, red and pink flowers able to revive the garden all summer. The openwork crail leaves look no less beautiful.

Perennial, in addition to the garden, is also used in perfumery, and in traditional medicine. And if you put its leaves in jars of jam, mold will definitely not start there!

homeland of geranium South Africa. At the beginning of the 16th century, scientists and sailors brought it to Europe on ships. At first she decorated the gardens of the nobles. In Russia, the flower appeared in the XVIII century. Domesticated began to be called pelargonium. Consider the rules for planting and caring for garden perennial geraniums.

Temperature and lighting

Geranium loves to grow in summer at +20 °C, and in winter at a temperature not lower than +15 °C. If the air temperature drops below +10 ° C, then the flower may die.

AT summer time a flower rejoices in high temperatures

When in April the air temperature exceeds +10 ° C, then geraniums can be taken out into the street, balcony, loggia.

Pelargonium is a flower that loves bright lighting. However, you can place it, as well as on the southern windowsill without shading, and on the northern one (but at the same time for abundant flowering required additional illumination fluorescent lamps).

Humidity and watering at different times of the year

Air humidity not important for geraniums. But pelargonium does not tolerate spraying on the leaves.

Water the flower with soft filtered water at room temperature. The plant prefers regular watering. In summer, water the plant, focusing on the fact that the earth should be constantly wet.

In winter, water twice a week. Do not over water the plant.

Soil and nutrient choice

Purchase for boarding soil for ornamental houseplants, pouring equal parts of peat, river sand and humus into it. In order to continuously supply oxygen to the roots, loosen the earth from time to time.

The soil can be taken ready and slightly supplemented with the necessary elements

If you need geraniums to bloom profusely, then add top dressing once a week. It is not advised to feed with organic matter, choose fertilizers with a predominance of phosphorus and potassium for feeding.

If you have recently transplanted geraniums, then do not feed her for 2 months let her live.

What kind of flowerpot do you need?

Choose a flowerpot not large from unglazed ceramics. Pelargonium does not tolerate free space for roots. If you place a geranium in a pot or flowerpot that has a large volume, it will not bloom and may even die.

Because of this, plant a geranium in a small pot, and after a year, transplant into a larger pot. For one root, select a flowerpot with a diameter of 10-14 cm and a height of 12 cm. When transplanting a year later, a new flowerpot or pot needs to be purchased 2 cm more.

The pot must have drainage holes. If you notice that the roots are peeking out of the drainage holes, then transplant the flower into a larger pot.

We paid special attention to the choice of flowerpots when we described.

Types of reproduction garden perennial

cuttings

early spring or early autumn cut the branches from the bush, this stimulates the growth of young shoots and inflorescences. Select the best young non-lignified shoots, cut them at a 45° angle, leaving 12 cm shoots with 4 leaves on top.

If you see inflorescences, then cut them off. Powder the slices with crushed charcoal or root.

cuttings simple varieties you can put in a vase of water where they will easily give roots, and decorative ones need to be planted in the soil.

After cutting, the cuttings are dried in the shade with room temperature 4 hours. Then:

If you have a long box for planting, then plant the cuttings at a distance of 5 cm. Place 1 plant in small cups. Then water the plants thoroughly again.

When watering, make sure that there is no overflow

Water the cuttings only when the soil is dry. Plants require an air temperature of +18-24 °C. After 3 weeks, the cuttings will grow roots. A month later, the plants need to be planted.

Seeds: step by step planting

True, with such reproduction varietal features grown plants may differ from mother flowers. You can sow seeds 1-2 pcs. in peat tablets. But if you plant in boxes, then:

Pour the seeds on the surface of moist soil at a distance of 5 cm.
Powder them on top of the earth.
Pour from a spray bottle.
Planting box put in warm and bright room , cover with plastic wrap.
Every day, open the film for half an hour to ventilate.
The air temperature should be +20-25 °C.
If you see that the earth has dried up¸ moisten it with a spray bottle.
After 14 days, the first shoots will sprout, then remove the film.
Illuminate your seedlings with fluorescent lights.
Put the sprouts in a room with an air temperature of +18 ° C.
When 4 leaves grow, you can transplant the sprouts.

Growing from seeds is not a fast process and requires patience.

By dividing the bush

Remove the geranium from the pot, divide the root, trim the roots a little, plant in two separate containers.

At the bottom of containers pour expanded clay, then soil from sod land, peat and river sand. Place the plant, lightly tamp the ground. Water after 2 days.

The most common pests and diseases of the species

Corking. When the disease appears, corky brownish growths are visible from below the leaves.

The plant begins to hurt with high humidity in the room and moistened roots. Therefore, it is required to remove diseased plants, reduce watering.

Stem and leaf bacteriosis. With them, the leaves begin to fade, then turn yellow and the plant dies. Black rot is visible at the base.

Diseased plants are destroyed.

Bacteriosis. With it, fleshy whitish growths are visible on the shoot.

Root and stem rot. With stem rot - the root neck becomes green-black, then rots. With root rot, the leaves become pale green and not shiny.

After the leaves fall off and the roots rot. The disease appears at low acidity of the earth.

With these diseases:

Verticillium wilt. With it, the leaves fade, then dry.

Sick pelargonium is eliminated along with the soil and pots. The rest of the plants are treated with Alirin-B, Gamair, the land is treated with the Healthy Land preparation.

Leaf spotting. When the disease is visible on the leaves, emerald, and subsequently brown round spots, they have a slightly raised edge and a brownish-olive coating in the middle.

Sick leaves are cut off, watering is reduced. Geranium is sprayed with Pureflower, Baimat.

Gray rot. Diseased inflorescences and leaves turn brown, weeping spots of rot are visible on them. Sick leaves and inflorescences are cut off.

Rust of pelargonium zonal. On the leaves, whitish spots are visible above, and brown pads below.

With gray rot and rust, plants are sprayed with Fitosporin-M.

Miscellaneous mites. When attacked by pests, the upper leaves stop growing, they can twist down. A brown scab is visible on the petioles and under the leaves.

At small defeat you can treat pelargonium with soap.

Ticks. When insects appear on the leaves of geranium, yellow specks are visible, after which whitish and dried patches appear.

Ticks often attack houseplants, and for open ground

Larvae of fungal mosquitoes. When attacked by mosquitoes, you can notice in the stems of transparent whitish larvae about 7 mm long, they have a black head.

Thrips. You can spot thrips by corky growths on the underside of the leaves. And also because the young leaves are deformed, and the flowers become stained.

Aphid. When aphids appear, the leaves curl, turn yellow, you can notice sticky discharge from aphids.

Caterpillars. Caterpillars are detected by the appearance of holes in the leaves.

Whitefly. You will understand that the plants were attacked by whiteflies when you notice small white butterflies and pale cream larvae under the leaves.

When plants are affected by all these pests, geraniums are treated with Aktara, Actellik.

Types of geraniums: varieties

All available species belong to perennial garden geraniums.

Tall

Magnificent Geranium (Hybrid)

This is hybrid geranium, it was obtained by crossing flat-leaved and Georgian geraniums. Bushes grow rapidly, they are up to 50 cm in height:

swamp geranium

It grows to a height of up to 70 cm, has branched stems and purple flowers.

Georgian

She has large flowers, they have purple hue. This is the most unpretentious care grade.

Undersized

Himalayan (large-flowered)

In height, geranium grows up to 30-50 cm. It has rounded leaves up to 10 cm. large flowers up to 5 cm in diameter, they purple with red veins.

Himalayan Plenum

The Himalayan plenum variety has a height of up to 30-60 cm, double flowers of a purple hue.

Ashy

The height of the ash bushes is up to 30 cm, snow-white flowers.

Dalmatian

In height, representatives of the Dalmatian variety reach 10 cm, bloom with a carpet of bright pink flowers.

Large-rhizome (Balkan)

These perennial plants grow up to 20-40 cm in height. Their flowers can be purple-pink, bright scarlet or pink-lavender. On the pedicel there are 2 flowers with a diameter of 3.5 cm.

Large rhizome bloom in early summer. Their fruits are in the form of boxes. Seeds can be harvested by the end of summer. The leaves are 10 cm wide, they are divided into 7 lobes, the edges of the leaves are in the form of teeth.

By November, the leaves turn golden or red. This species is planted in rockeries.

Variety Gorgeous Variety Swamp Variety Georgian Variety Himalayan Plenum Variety Large-rhizome

Interestingly, not only in geranium varieties are divided into tall and short. We found the same division in the article.

Garden geraniums can be planted and decorate any area. It is planted in flower beds and flower beds, mixborders, in alpine slides. Flowers are great for framing borders and garden paths.

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 the open field.

Features and description of perennial garden geranium

Garden geranium is a perennial flowering plant, which 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 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:

Sadovaya 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 of garden geraniums that is valued 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 find suitable varieties for your site.
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

Today there are more than 300 various kinds, 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 is very lush bloom. Flowers are pale pink.
Variety "Czakor". Pleases with bright purple-red flowers, abundantly blooming on a bush.

Geranium perennial marsh

In nature, this species is 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". Most popular variety This type of geranium, which is characterized 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. Flowers lilac shade, 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 it on your site amazing plant, then you can observe 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 a plant. 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 buy rhizome from large quantity adventitious roots and bud renewal. 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 the close occurrence of groundwater.
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 are 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 lush and abundant flowering, give preference to a more fertile and nutritious one.
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. Broken bricks, small stones or gravel can be used as drainage.
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, then it is best to use complex mineral fertilizers. Optimal time for this process - the period of active vegetation and the middle of the period of bud formation.

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. AT autumn period you can remove yellowed leaves, but this action is not necessary, because most geranium varieties 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 area has 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.

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