April 3rd, 2008

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Geranium or Pelargonium?

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008

I’ve been thinking about geraniums.  I have three different kinds at the moment.  One is a wild one — Geranium dissectum.

Geranium dissectum grows wild in my flower gardens, interspered between the purposefully planted things.  It is blooming right now.

Another type of geranium I have is of the genus Geranium; it’s called cranesbill, which I’ll post pictures of when it blooms.  (If it ever does again, after last year’s drought.)  The name of the particular species I bought escapes me right now.  Again, cranesbill is of the genus Geranium. 

The third type is the kind called commonly “geranium” in garden centers.  It is the genus Pelargonium.

The genus Pelargonium includes many scented geraniums, such as the rose geranium. 

Fortunately, my Pelargonium has done very well inside this winter and is actually blooming in what I call my stairwell conservatory.  Between the old gas heater in such a small upstairs space and the large windows, letting in both eastern and western light, both plants and seedlings do well there.

So all three plants – Geranium dissectum, cranesbill, and Pelargonium – are members of the family Geraniaceae.  It’s the genus that varies.  The family Geraniaceae has three genera: 

  • Erodium
  • Geranium
  • Pelargonium

There’s much more to know about the family Geraniaceae and the genera Geranium and Pelargonium.  I do intend to collect more of these plants.  I have really enjoyed the ones that I have. 

Here’s a picture of my stairwell conservatory.

You know the heat from the heater does a lot to help along the seedlings and the tropical plants.

Lynn…

who’s happiest when her feet are firmly planted in the garden…

and when her pockets are full of seeds…

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