Geraniums

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I have recently noticed how amazing geraniums are. I think many people like myself have seen them, and they are pretty standard, so they probably don't appreciate all they have to offer. They continuously bloom all year in places with mild winters, don't require much water, don't really get a lot of bugs or diseases, and are just tough as nails! I had them at one place I lived, which was in a brick bed that hardly got any water and just bloomed and bloomed. They are commonly called geraniums because they resemble wild geraniums in Europe but are actually considered pelargonium, which was reclassified by Carl Linnaeus. They come in a ton of different colors and have six common varieties. The ivy geranium which offers a great plant for cascading flowers in a hanging basket. The regal is a specific variety that often comes in multicolored flowers like pink and white. The inter-specific is a cross between a zonal and ivy, with the most common one having deep red flowers and long blooming in warm climates because it is heat resistant. The scented tends to have smaller flowers but can be highly fragrant with smells such as citrus and mint. The zonal are the most common and have large flowers and even double varieties that bloom all summer. The fancy-leafed are zonal but have been bred to have colorful and boldly patterned leaves in addition to their flowers. Geraniums can be grown from seed and cuttings. They also do well as cut flowers. With a little deadheading, the plants can be kept up very nicely. With so many colors and varieties to choose from, I am really looking forward to adding some of these to my garden. So, next time you turn your nose up to this plant, you might remember all the benefits and colors it has to offer!