Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, geraniums are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing geraniums.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Do Geraniums Belong To?
Geraniums (Geranium spp. and Pelargonium spp.) belong to the Geraniaceae family, also known as the geranium family.
Some of their relatives include stork's bill and cranesbill.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Geraniums?
The minimum container depth recommended for most geraniums is 8 inches.
The container should also be at least 10 inches wide.
There are certain "mini" species and varieties that can grow in smaller containers than this, but these are the recommendations for most common geraniums.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Geraniums?
Some of geraniums' best companions are as follows:
- Rose, since geraniums repel rose beetle
- Corn
- Peppers such as jalapeño and banana pepper
- Grape
- Cherry
- Hazelnut
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Geraniums?
Geraniums are not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with geraniums are as follows:
What Soil Conditions Do Geraniums Need?
Geraniums prefer loose, rich soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
How Long Do Geraniums Take to Germinate?
Geraniums take 1-2 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 70-80°F.
How Much Sun Do Geraniums Need?
Geraniums need full sun.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and geraniums grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need some shade.
How Much Water Do Geraniums Need?
Geraniums should be watered deeply when the top half-inch of soil is dry.
This usually equates to 1 deep watering session per week. It varies based on weather and growing conditions.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Geraniums?
Geraniums grow fastest in temperatures of 50-75°F.
This is their ideal temperature range. Although they will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, the growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some geranium varieties are bred for later harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Do Geraniums Get?
The average height of geraniums is 2-4 feet.
Some species and varieties can grow up to 8 feet tall. On the other hand, some geraniums — especially those in the Pelargonium genus — are only a few inches tall at their maximum height.
Are Geraniums Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Some geraniums are annual, meaning that they start and end their lives in the same year.
Other geraniums are perennial, meaning that they live for longer than a couple years.
Whether a geranium is annual or perennial mainly depends on the genus, species, and variety. In general, Geranium spp. geraniums are perennial in most climates, while Pelargonium spp. geraniums are either annuals or tender perennials that only survive multiple years in Hardiness Zones 10 and above.
How Do Geraniums Reproduce?
Geraniums reproduce by seed or cutting.
Can Geraniums Be Ingested?
Geranium flowers, leaves, and roots are edible.
Geranium flowers, leaves, and roots have antiseptic and tonic properties and can be used in herbal preparations. The roots are the most potent. The most common preparations are tea and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:3 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a geranium tincture.
There are no known safety concerns associated with ingesting geranium leaves, flowers, or roots.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of geraniums rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for geraniums here!
Geraniums are featured in these Plant to Plate articles: