Geranium
Pelargonium × hortorum · Family Geraniaceae
Also known as: pelargonium, zonal geranium, bedding geranium
- Light
- Full sun
- Watering
- Every 4 days
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Pet-safe
- No, keep it away from cats and dogs
Care
Where to put it
A sunny windowsill, window box or patio pot.
Light
Full sun for plenty of flowers. Leggy growth means it wants more light.
Watering
Water when the top of the compost is dry. It prefers too dry to too wet.
About the plant
A classic of European windowsills, it has aromatic leaves and clusters of red, pink or white flowers. It tolerates heat and flowers for many months. It roots easily from cuttings, making new plants simple to grow.
Origin
A hybrid of species native to South Africa, from sunny, dry regions.
What it likes
- Full sun
- Letting the compost dry between waterings
- Deadheading spent flowers
What it dislikes
- Soggy compost
- Shade
- Frost
Did you know?
Pelargonium comes from the Greek pelargos, 'stork', because the fruit resembles the bird's beak.
