Geraniums

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Geranium flowers are very full, come in a range of colors and are incredibly hardy.

A Favorite of Many Gardeners and Homeowners

Geraniums are a very popular plant and have been for many years. I can't speak for everyone, but I believe that they are a favorite not only because of their beauty but also because of their strength. Geraniums are able to thrive in hot, dry and sunny locations better than almost any other annual. Red is the color most people request but that should not deter anyone from noticing the beautiful salmons, purples, pinks and whites that are available. My personal favorite is the white with pink eye variety called White Splash that is new this year.

Geraniums perform best when the spent flowers are removed in a process known as "dead-heading". The small amount of time required to remove the dead flowers is well worth the results. (If you're not familiar with how to do this, please feel free to ask anyone at Wenke Greenhouses for instruction.)

I'm frequently asked what the difference is between a cultured geranium also known as a zonal or cutting geranium and the seed types. In terms of how we produce them, cultured geraniums are grown from cuttings taken from a stock or mother plant while seed geraniums are produced from seed. We start most of our seed and cultured geraniums in January and February so that they are ready for planting in the garden in May.

The important difference between cultured and seed geraniums is really performance. Cultured geraniums tend to have much larger flower heads and significantly bigger foliage as compared to seed geraniums. As a general guideline, people who are planting in patio pots or baskets tend to want the larger flowers that come with cultured geraniums. People who are planting a large flowerbed tend to go with seed geraniums. Both types can work in either environment.

We have two new varieties of geraniums this year. I mentioned the Americana White Splash above. This variety is unique because of its color. The pink eye adds a dramatic effect to any planter or basket. We also grew a variety called Calliope Red this spring. Calliope is a cross between an ivy and a zonal type of cultured geranium. Ivy Geraniums tend to have a trailing habit, smaller flowers and just ok garden performance. Zonal types tend to be upright, large flowers and great garden performance. Calliope is a cross between the two to give the semi-trailing habit, large flowers and excellent performance. We have been impressed with what we have seen so far. The dark red color is also very popular.

Geraniums in the 3 gallon pots and the 5.5" round pots are now 25% the regular price. It's a great value and just in time for summer planting.