When is a Geranium not a Geranium?

Wow what a lovely 'genus' (see I am learning) :~)) I do truelly like these and may incorporate more and more into my beds.
Thank you for a very informative blog and your beautiful photos. I for one would like to see part 2 ? :~)))

stonking good read there spritz. there are some true beauties out there in a much maligned genus.
agree with ian a part 2 is a must surely?

enjoyed reading your blog spritz and seeing a selection of your lovely geraniums, so many and all beautifull to :o)

A great read Spritz - have always wondered about what exactly is a geranium. So many plants in this genus are labelled as 'geranium', it's very confusing for the learner gardener. The photos are stunning - so many beauties. Part 2 soon?

What lovely geraniums Spritz. I do like hardy geraniums. You have some beauties. I've been eyeing the 'Hocus Pocus'. We have some at work. I think it's beautiful. It does seem to suffer from powdery mildew here though. Do you have the same problem with it over there?

Lovely blog and lovely photos. I learned from my Dad years ago the difference between Geraniums and Pelargoniums and have since argued the point several times, but then we moved to Spain - I have now had to un-learn everything I knew and re-learn to call Pelargoniums Geraniums as that's what they're known as here. Even boxes of Nitrophosphate feed is labelled for "Geraniums" but with a picture of Pelargoniums on the box! Having said all that, I would love to have some "true" geraniums in my garden but have not seen them in the very few GCs and have yet to track down a Spanish gardening catalogue so I can order by post. I'll get one, one day!

Love Geraniums :))))
I think my favourites are the cantabrigiens and i love the pratense Flore Pleno :)

Smashing blog Spritz. I didn't realise that there wwere so many different ones. The ones you have shown in your blog are all beautiful and so well photographed. My particular favourites are G. Phaeum "Album" and G. Versicolour (The one you say " Well could you have resisted this one?)
Thanks for the blog, will await side two.

Very beautiful Spritz. I love the variety you show in your blog. It was indeed informative. I had no idea there were so many varieties, and such varied beauty among them. I have learned so much in my short time on this site.

Well.....everyone has said what I was going to say....lol...can't make up my mind which is my fav....I love them all...but tend to stick with the smaller varieties in my garden such as "Bertie Crug"; dalmaticum;.and a lovely little almost brown leaved geranium with a tiny white flower called "Porters Pass" (Louise has one)...excellent pics....thanks for the tour:)))

Lovely colourful variety you have and some unusual ones too

Thankyou....I really enjoyed this blog. Is this the start of a regular, maybe weekly series? I think it should be.

That was great, Spritz! I loved the sheer variety of these, & I agree, the versicolor (?) is absolutely amazing & irresistible!

When pelargoniums were first discovered (in their native South Africa), they were classified as geraniums. Later they were moved into their own genus of pelargonium (stork's bill) but sadly, the name geranium has stuck with the resulting confusion.
Good blog spritz - as you way, there are lots of geraniums, enough to keep you busy with blogs on them for ages :-)

Now that would mean buying some more, Andrew! ;-)

I might do another one...I'll have a think about it.

Thanks for the lovely responses to this blog!

your welcome Spritz my pleasure looking at such pretty varieties thanks for sharing

There is some wonderful blooms in this blog, I can easily understand why you like them so much. I like the many varieties of peglegoniums so I'm sure to like these even more because they come back every year :~))) Its cheaper that way. Lol

I think they could quickly become addictive!

Madperth, I have made up a new word - 'Geranioholic'...which describes me! The first thing I do on visiting a GC or Nursery is to look at their Geraniums to see if they have any that I haven't got. :-)

That's true, Ian. I much prefer them to Pelargoniums, anyway! Mind you, I used to grow Regal Pelargoniums in the greenhouse, and enjoyed them!

Suprisingly Hatter, I agree with you Lol :~))

Now there's a turn-up (or is it a turnip?) for the books!!
Digger agreeing with me!

LOL.

When is the best time to buy pelargoniums, Spritz? This is terrible, every time I see a new plant, it's "I want that one"!!!!

Errrr. Pelargoniums are around mostly in the early summer, Madperth! You can't put them outside until after the frosts...although GCs etc get them in stock before that!

Or do you mean Geraniums?? They are available now, as most are in flower at the moment...and you can normally buy them from early in the year, as they start to re-appear from their winter rest!

I'll get my head round it yet! I still get muddled about which are annual or perennial too! Never mind, maybe someone could put up blogs saying stuff like, it's time to plant your............whatevers!
Thanks tho! I think I need a notepad here!

All the 'Geraniums' in this blog are perennials - and hardy, too. They don't need much attention, just to cut off the dead heads when they've finished flowering, or as I said, to freshen up some, and get a new flush of flowers, you can take the shears to them!

Just ask if you want to know anything - or send me a PM, if you'd prefer.

Hi Spritz.Thanks for this blog.Have a few shady ares in our mainly woodland garden where would love a few hardy geraniums.So have made a note of G.phaeum Album,which seems to fit the bill !

Nice to hear, Bb! :-) I wonder where you could buy seeds? I just checked Chiltern, and they only sell the dark phaeum.

Dont know Spritz..but while here have you any advice regarding a white variety which would thrive in dry shade ?

It's definitely the G. macrorrhizums for that situation, Bb. There is a white one, 'Album', but its stamens are pink. lol.

Thanks so much for that Spritz..just what we needed to know! Will be on the hunt over next couple of weeks !

There's also geranium nodosum 'Silverwood' if you can find anyone who sells it

Thanks Andrew..will look out for this too! Thanks so much to both of you!

I'm sooo confused (even more than usual!).
Never mind, I'll learn!! Thanks Spritz! Once I work out what to ask, I will!!!

Thanks Spritz for a very imformative blog,I can see why you like them but will admit I never realised how many there are to choose from,lovely photo`s as well.....

Thanks, Lincslass.

Please feel free. Madperth! :-)

Great blog Spritzas always. I love hardy geraniums,I have a few at home and there are great drifts of them at Kew but I prefer Pelargoniums.There are some lovely species
with very attractive foliage.When I'm back to work I'll take some pictures and post them.

That would be good, Rbtkew - a 'sister' blog to go with this one! :-) I'll look forward to seeing it.

They are very addictive... Spritz has managed to get me completely hooked... really enjoyed the read Spritz, thank you - have cheered me up no end... and yes so many more to collect - i thought i had quite a few, but i realise i still have lots of them to get ;-) oh dear that's a shame, may need a bigger garden.... did i tell you i Just bough a G. phaeum 'Album' :-) and still eludeing me on the wish list are Mrs K Clark, Coombland, and not forgetting Laura.... that's a beautiful double one if ever i saw one.....

As you know Spritz you are preaching to the converted, if only I had the space.......my husband gets really annoyed regarding the naming incorrectly of geraniums and pelagoniums, he is from the old school, dear old Alan T did try in his day to put the masses right.
We are having to be more selective now as space is of a premium, does not stop me from looking though, enjoyed your blog as per.

Just the information I needed today as I've had at least 3 members recommend hardy geraniums to me for our new garden. The specimens you have are a lovely bunch, Spritz. I have some geraniums in our garden but I don't know if they are hardy or not....will have to check to see if I have any labels for them. Some were gifted and I bought one this week as well at Morrisons.

Thanks for such an extensive and informative blog, Spritz.

You're most welcome, Wh'lass! If you can tell me any names, I'm sure I can help - either from my collection, or from the Geranium books I have. :-)

Thanks again, Barbara :)

Gosh this is a blast from the past, nearly two years since this was written, and very well written it was......Whiston I hope you find what you are looking for.

Thanks, Dd. :-)) I admit I was a bit surprised when it popped up again! I have quite a few new ones since then, so maybe it's time for part 3! lol.

Thanks, DD...the fun is in the search as much as in the finding/planting/nurturing :)

Oh, I do agree, Wh'lass. I love plant hunting! :-)

FIRST I ASKED CAN YOU GRAFT A PELARGONIUM.IT SEEMS IN 1872 IN CALIFORNIA A FARMER GRAFTED THE FIRST PELARGONIUM,NOW THREE YEARS AGO THEY THOUGHT A UNIVERSITY SHOULD TRY GRAFTING GERANIUMS AND THEY DID FOUND IT EASY NOW ON INTERNET.GERANIUM GRAFTING EXPERIMENT HAS TAKEN PLACE,THE ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDENS,AT SHROOMERY MESSGE BOARD PUT THREE DIFFERENT COLOURS ON ONE ROOT IN A EXPERIMENT ,ALL TOOK ,NOW THEY ARE GOINGTO TRY GRAFTING ONTO A CITRONELLA GERANIUM A HARDY GERANIUM,THEY CUT THE GERANIUM STRAIGHT ACCROSS THE TOP PUT A KNIFE DOWN THE BARK CUT THE SCION BOTH SIDE AND PUSH IT DOWN ALLOWING THE GRAFT TO TOUCH THE SIDES OF THE BARK .PICTURS ON INTERNET,THEY NOW ARE SAYING ALL NURSERYS WILLBE DOING THIS NOW,