The 4 Major Types of Geranium to Know

by Michael Bell 12/09/2024

Geraniums are one of the most popular garden flowers in North America. They're fragrant, colorful and grow well in containers, hanging baskets and flower beds. They're easy to care for and have over 300 different species to choose from. To help you pick the best option for your garden, here are the four main types of geranium to keep in mind:

Zonal Geraniums

Zonal geraniums are the most common type grown in gardens. They grow with single or double blooms in a wide variety of colors including white, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple and burgundy. Zonal geraniums are some of the easiest to grow and thrive in many different climates. They're drought-tolerant and can be grown as perennials in regions with temperate winters.

Regal Geraniums

Regal geraniums are also called Marsha Washington geraniums. This type of geranium has large multicolored flowers compared to the smaller, single-colored zonal geraniums. Regal geraniums need cooler temperatures to thrive, and won't bloom at all in hotter weather.

Ivy Geraniums

Ivy geraniums aren't climbing vines, but trail beautifully out of containers or hanging baskets. They grow in long, cascading mounds of flowers and can grow up to three feet wide if given enough space to spread out. These geraniums love full sunlight and will bloom from early spring to the first frost when in optimal conditions.

Scented Geraniums

While you might expect the flowers of scented geraniums to be scented, it's actually their foliage. Scented geraniums have velvety textured leaves that give off pleasant scents in endless variations. Some popular scents are rose, apricot, mint and apple. Generally, you can glean the scent from the name of the cultivar, such as "Lemon Balm" or "Chocolate Mint." These geraniums don't bloom as much as other types, but their special foliage makes them a favorite among many gardeners.

About the Author
Author

Michael Bell

In twenty five years of real estate sales and marketing experience, I have sold hundreds of properties, while developing detailed knowledge of Sonoma & Napa area communities. I am a life-long resident in the North Bay and after a full day at work, I enjoy spending time with my four children, and participating in their many school and recreational activities. 

Over the years, my clients have expressed diverse plans and dreams. I seek to truly understand and appreciate my clients' goals, focusing my efforts on realizing them. It has been fun learning more about the unique opportunities that attract people to the area such as the culinary community, the viticulture and wine industry as well as outdoor adventure tourism. It is important to me to listen to my clients, do what it takes to serve their needs and I am dedicated to treating everyone involved in a transaction both in a personal and professional manner. I work hard to anticipate and respond to the routine tasks at hand as well as the complex challenges that come up during real estate transactions while ensuring my goal to deliver you the outcome you desire.