Geranium Blog

Attack of the Budworms

Oh, the heartbreak! Actually, it's not that bad - only three zonal geraniums are involved and none of the scented geraniums. I sprayed all of them with BT on Friday. This article - Budworm--Bad Bug - suggests also using an insecticide with pyrethrin, changing the potting soil in the fall and handpicking the worms in the evening.

Seed Patrol

A few warm days and like magic, the seeds appear! This afternoon I harvested seeds from Pelargonium 'Cinnamon', P. ionidiflorum (Celery), Coconut, Apple and a couple of zonals.

Just Peachy

Pelargonium 'Peach'

Peach Geranium is splashed with yellow variegation on small serrated leaves. The leaves have a fresh, fruity scent.

Here is a plant culture tip for variegated pelargoniums: Prune away any pure green or pure white branches. The solid green parts of the plant will grow faster and more robustly than the variegated parts. By removing the solid green, you will ensure that you plant remains variegated. The pure white branches will be unable to survive for long. Removing them early on ensures that they will not later become a drain on the plant's health.

Pelargonium 'Lara Bounty'

Lara Bounty is a rose scented geranium. The leaves are quite finely divided. The fabulous ruffled flowers are nearly 2 inches across. The plant itself acts like it aims to grow big.

Arucana Geranium Looks As Exotic As It Sounds

P. 'Arucana' is an exotic beauty: dark green leathery leaves on woody stems. It is fast-growing and tall with big, eye-catching flowers.

A Slice of Apple Geranium

Apple Geranium is now covered with tiny white flowers and a tangle of seedheads. This morning I began collecting the little cranesbills to dry for seed. I just cut off the ones that are starting to dry and put them in a pie pan. The seeds of P. odoratissimum have a little fluffy springtail and will fly away in any wind, so it's best to get them off the plant before they "spring".

I also collected some seeds from P. x fragrans 'Nutmeg' and P. x fragrans 'Snowy Nutmeg'.

Old Fashioned Rose Geranium

This is for Cam and all the other small flower fans. Old Fashioned Rose blooms with lovely little lavendar bouquets. I've been frustrated for a while that my old digital camera couldn't handle the fine details of the beautiful but tiny flowers of some scented geraniums. Recently we got a new camera - an HP Photosmart M425 - and I'm making up for lost time!

Snowy Nutmeg Geranium

Pelargonium x fragrans 'Snowy Nutmeg'

Snowy Nutmeg is just like regular Nutmeg Geranium, but with splashes of white variegation. Nice strong nutmeggy smell, too.

Seed Report

Pelargonium x fragrans (Nutmeg) with flowers and seedheads

As you can see, Nutmeg Geranium is covered with flowers and seed heads. The same goes for P. odoratissimum (Apple). P. grossularioides (Coconut) - always a vigorous seed producer - is just getting started.

There are two small-scale seed producers so far this year: P. 'Strawberry' has three cranesbills forming. Also, P. x fragrans 'Snowy Nutmeg' has produced a few seedheads. Will the seedlings be variegated like the parent?

And then, a zonal geranium called 'Patriot Salmon Chic' has nine seedheads so far, but who knows if they will reproduce true. And besides that, the tag says "Do not propagate".

Sublime Lime Geranium

Here's another favorite - Lime Scented Geranium. Notice that everytime a flower opens, it's my favorite! They're all my favorites, just for different reasons.

Small Is Beautiful

Chocolate Mint is a large scented geranium with tiny little pink flowers. Even though they are so small, the detail is fascinating.

Pelargonium 'Mexican Sage'

Mexican Sage geranium is a large-growing member of the Apricot group. Its scent is kind of spicy. The flowers are about an inch across.

Prince of Orange Geranium

This is one of my new scented geraniums. Prince of Orange is definitely not a frog. It forms a nice upright bush and, like P. 'Orange', is an eager and elegant bloomer with irrisistible eyelashes. Look how it holds its buds two by two. Quite the flirt!

Orange You Gonna Take My Picture?

That's how Orange Geranium is. Always throwing herself in front of the camera! And yet I oblige, because Orange really is one of my favorite scented geraniums. She is a very generous bloomer and I love the little "bunny ear" purple spots. Refreshing orange scent, too.

White Zonal Geranium

Is there anything prettier than a white zonal geranium? The little pink spots are the perfect touch - like a baby doll's cheeks.

Strawberry Surprise!

Pelargonium 'Strawberry'

Strawberry Geranium is one of my favorites. This geranium will bloom periodically throughout the spring and summer. Of the smaller-sized scented pelargoniums, this is one of the most rewarding to grow. Whether it is blooming or not, it always looks interesting and exotic.

More about Pelargonium 'Strawberry'