Geraniums

When you shop for geraniums, you actually choose from several different types. To help you make a selection, some geranium varieties are explained below:

Zonal Geraniums
Perfect for pots and planters, they are the classic ball-style, upright geraniums with big leaves. Zonals fill a large container with foliage and color, by way of their distinctive blooms in pink, red and white. These plants can get top-heavy, so they are best used in large pots or along garden beds where tipping is not an issue.

Ivy Geraniums
Waxy, succulent leaves and a trailing habit make these geraniums ideal for hanging baskets or the outside edges of large containers. Mix them with zonals by keeping the zonals in the center for height and the ivies on the outside for a spilling, trailing effect.

Fancy Leaf Geraniums
Treasured as much for their foliage as for their flowers, these frequently have rings of color on their leaves. Fancy leaf geraniums serve as the stand-out plants in a collection of their greener cousins.

Martha Washington or Regal Geraniums
These geraniums have almost pansy-like markings on their very big blooms. Regal geraniums actually prefer cooler, shadier spots in the garden—they are not quite as tolerant of the harsh sun as standard geraniums are.

Scented Geraniums
Rub or crush a leaf and enjoy the fragrance! Lemon-scented varieties are very popular, although many other scents are now available as well. The fragrance comes from oils on the leaves, so the scent will follow you if you brush up against it or rub some of it on your skin.