The geranium is one of the most popular and dependable flowering plants for containers, window boxes, and beds, blooming tirelessly all season in red, pink, white, and purple. Easy and forgiving, it’s a favourite of gardeners everywhere.
Geranium at a glance
- Botanical name: Pelargonium
- Family: Geraniaceae
- Bloom season: spring to fall
- Symbolism: true friendship, health, and good wishes
About the geranium
The plants most people call geraniums are actually Pelargonium, tender perennials from South Africa grown as annuals in cold climates. The true hardy geranium, or cranesbill, is a different, cold-hardy perennial for borders. Both are easy, but pelargoniums are the classic pot and window-box flower.
Geranium meaning and symbolism
The geranium symbolizes true friendship, health, and good wishes, making it a warm, positive gift or a cheerful presence on any windowsill.
Types of geranium
Popular varieties worth knowing:
- Zonal geraniums — the classic upright pot and bedding type
- Ivy geraniums — trailing, ideal for hanging baskets
- Scented geraniums — grown for fragrant leaves
- Hardy geranium (cranesbill) — a cold-hardy perennial for borders
How to grow and care for geranium
A few essentials keep this flower thriving:
- Give full sun to part shade and well-drained soil
- Let the soil dry slightly between waterings
- Deadhead spent blooms to keep flowering
- Feed regularly for the best display
- Overwinter tender pelargoniums indoors in cold climates
Geranium FAQs
Are geraniums perennials?
It depends. The common potted ‘geranium’ (Pelargonium) is a tender perennial grown as an annual in cold climates, while the true hardy geranium, or cranesbill, is a fully perennial garden plant.
What is the difference between a geranium and a pelargonium?
The plants sold as bedding and pot ‘geraniums’ are really Pelargonium, tender South African plants. True geraniums (cranesbills) are different, cold-hardy perennials. The names are often used interchangeably.
Do geraniums come back every year?
Hardy geraniums (cranesbills) return each year. Common pelargonium ‘geraniums’ aren’t frost-hardy, so in cold climates they’re replaced yearly or overwintered indoors.
Explore more
Browse more flower profiles, learn about flower meanings, or find your birth flower.