Geranium, or do I mean Pelagonium? (Geranium)

Member Name: mumsymary

Product:	Geranium
Date:	10/11/02 (1168 review reads)
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Geraniums or do you mean Pelagonium/


Geranium is a genus of about 300 species of perennials. Pelagonium is a genus of about 250 species. Often Plutonium?s are known incorrectly as Geranium?s. Geranium and Pelagonium are different genus very closely related.
Geraniums were commonly cultivated in Europe and then Pelagonium were introduced from South Africa and temperate regions.

Geraniums
I shall name and describe a few of the true/real geraniums, then go on to Pelagonium commonly called geraniums.

Geranium robertianum/ herb Robert probably not used by many as a garden plant ,but I deliberately leave a few self sets as I think they are pretty.
Herb Robert is an annual or biennial with hairy red tinged stems its leaves are very pretty divided palmate leaves it has deep pink flowers1cm across these are produced early summer to late autumn its height and spread can be 50cm/20 inches.
There is also a white cultivar of herb Robert it usually grows smaller and more compact

Geranium maculatum /American cranesbill/spotted cranesbill
This is a clump forming perennial with deeply divided palmate leaves in the summer it has pink flowers followed by long beaklike fruits .can grow to30in/75cm high spreading 18 in/45cm


Pelagonium are a tender perennial and can be divided into 5 groups: Zonal, Dwarf/ miniature Zonal, regal, ivy leaved and scented leaved. The most common is I think the zonal.

The Zonal has rounded leaves usually marked with darker patches some are tricolour leaves others gold or silver variegations. They have single or double flowers of red pinks purple?s. These pelagonium flower from early summer till late autumn I have some with a few flowers on now.
They grow well in the open garden perfect for sunner bedding they are good in window boxes or hanging baskets. They grow happily in the conservatory or greenhouse


Dwarf Zonal grow to 5-8 inches tall 13-20cm are bus
hy

Miniatures grow no bigger than 5 inches/13cm. Both these are good as small pot plants or in window boxes.


Regal these are a tall shrubby plant with rounded leaves with a serrated edge. They have large trumpet shape flowers can be grown outside but more in the greenhouse /conservatory or as a houseplant.

Ivy leaved these are a trailing plant with pretty ivy shaped leaves good in a hanging basket or as I like to see them trailing over a wall.


Scented leaved pelagonium I have one that smells of lemon you can get apple, and chocolate mint smelling ones too these have smaller flowers These can be grown outside I have my massive lemon one in a pot by the front door is about 1 metre tall!!


Pelagonium do not like standing in water but keep them watered regularly.

Pelagonium are not frost hardy so move them to shelter before frosts you can save them for next year.
To do this lift the plants shake some soil of the roots cut back the stems and remove leaves. Store in an old wooden or strong cardboard box with deep sides half fill box with compost and place the prepared plants (stools) close in the box (not touching) fill box with compost and firm it water the compost the plants should only need watering when they become very dry .New shoots will appear you can use these as cuttings or pot the plant up in the spring and plant out next year after risk of frosts.

Cuttings can be taken late summer or early spring. I take some both seasons.

Fill a pot with compost first water the compost. Then take a cutting from a shoot about 2. 1/2 to 3 inches long take of all but 2 leaves dab the ends in rooting hormone and put in the compost. Several cuttings can be placed in 1 pot place in a warm light position and water from below when required when fresh leaves appear they have rooted and can be potted up singly ready for flowering in the summer


You can make flavoured sugar with gera
niums. Get a clean jar and put in some scented washed geranium leaves which have not been sprayed with pesticides ETC put some sugar in add a few more leaves. Leave for a couple of weeks and you will have scented flavoured sugar

You can make geranium cakes! Wash unsprayed leaves and add to a Madeira cake mix I haven?t made these just found the info on the Internet. Might give them a try one day though.

A South African butterfly Geranium Bronze Cacyreus marshalli now spread through southern Europe and has been brought into England accidentally on Pelagonium has been seen and recorded at least 3 times.


Thank you for reading enjoy your geraniums , or do I mean Pelagonium

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