Loading…
🔍 Click to enlargeflowerperennial
Geranium (Pelargonium)
Pelargonium × hortorum
Cheerful, fragrant annual grown as a perennial in warm zones. A porch and window box staple.
Quick Facts
Sun:☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Partial Shade
Water:💧💧 Moderate
USDA Zones:Zones 9–11
Space:🪴 Container, 🌱 Small Bed
Soil:Loam, Sandy, Silty
Best Season(s):Spring, Summer, Fall
Experience Level:🌱 Beginner
Native Range:Southern Africa
Bloom Color:Red, pink, white, salmon, purple
Bloom Cycle:Late spring through frost
Care Notes
Deadhead consistently. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Overwinter indoors in cold zones.
Growing Details
Mature Size:1-2 ft tall, 1-1.5 ft wide
Growth Rate:🌿 Moderate
Zone Performance
In zones 9-11, Pelargonium × hortorum is a true perennial subshrub that can live for years outdoors with only light pruning. Outside its listed hardy range it is grown as a warm-season annual or must be brought indoors before first frost and kept as a houseplant or dormant bare-root cutting over winter to survive.
Companions & Wildlife
🦌 Deer Resistance
rarely damaged
The strongly scented, slightly fuzzy foliage is highly unpalatable to deer, making zonal geraniums one of the most reliably deer-proof bedding plants.
🐝 Pollinator Value
low
Double and semi-double zonal cultivars offer little accessible nectar, though bees will visit single-flowered older varieties.
Good Companions
Lobelia — Trailing blue lobelia contrasts nicely with upright geranium blooms and shares similar container watering needs.
Dusty Miller — Silvery foliage sets off geranium's bright flower clusters and both tolerate the same dry-between-waterings regimen.
Petunia — A classic window box pairing sharing full sun and moderate water requirements for season-long color.
Rosemary — Shares geranium's preference for well-drained soil and drier conditions, and its scent can help mask geranium foliage from browsing pests.
Troubleshooting
⚠️ Botrytis (gray mold) on flowers in wet, humid weather
Deadhead spent blooms promptly and avoid wetting foliage when watering; improve spacing for airflow.
⚠️ Yellowing lower leaves
This is often natural leaf senescence, but check that soil is allowed to dry between waterings since geraniums are prone to root rot in soggy soil.
⚠️ Leggy, sparse growth after overwintering indoors
Cut plants back by half in late winter before moving back outdoors to encourage compact new growth.
⚠️ Pet Safety
Toxic to cats and dogs (geraniol, linalool) — can cause vomiting, depression, and dermatitis.
Informational only — always check with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn't have.