Driving through Germany in the summer months one is sure to be struck by the colorful natural beauty of countless gardens and balconies. Geraniums in various flower colors and shapes adorn outdoor areas across the country. You can enjoy their natural charm for a long time, from May to the end of September. It becomes very clear that the Germans rely on the classics and really know how to care for their most popular garden and balcony flowers. Geraniums are undoubtedly the number one favorite when it comes to beautiful flowers. Their enormous blossoms transform every garden and balcony into a colorful oasis of well-being. They grow in boxes, tubs or pots, some varieties could also be grown in beds. If you are a fan of these beautiful flowers, you can learn a lot of interesting things about geraniums here with us today. We will report on practical tips for caring for them in the next article. Are you already curious? Then let’s get started!
These are the must-haves in every German garden
Interesting facts about geraniums
These colorful garden and balcony plants are popularly called geraniums, but their real name is pelargonium (from the Latin word pelargonium). The magnificent plants originally come from South Africa and, from a botanical point of view, belong to the large cranesbill family, Geraniaceae in Latin. The scientific names are derived from the Greek words geranos (crane) and pelargos (stork). The naming refers to well-known birds and indicates the relationship within the cranesbill family. Unfortunately, it is not known when and how pelargoniums got to Europe, but they were already there at the end of the 17th century. Nowadays they are widespread in the Mediterranean area, but can also overwinter well with us. There are more than 250 different varieties, including new breeds. The varieties that are well represented in Germany are divided into three groups: hanging geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum), upright species (Pelargonium zonale) and the scented geraniums.
Geraniums belong to the large cranesbill family
All geraniums enchant with their magnificent flowers in different, strong colors. One can see these true natural beauties in white, pink, blood and burgundy or violet. They please the eye and refresh the mind and soul. Its flowering period lasts for months – from May until the first frost in late autumn. That’s another good reason to marvel at the blooms and natural beauty of geraniums all summer long. The pelargonium grows fast and bushy and forms long shoots, usually between 25 and 40 cm. Only the hanging geraniums form very long shoots that reach up to 150 cm. But this is how they show off their blossoms to their best advantage and their cascades of flowers enchant passers-by.
Our tip: Pelargoniums are beautiful and harmless to humans. But they are poisonous to some animals! For example, you better keep bunnies, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs away from these flowers!
Hanging geraniums form showy flower cascades
use
As I just said, we report on care tips for geraniums in another article. Here we would like to go into further reasons for their use in the garden or on the balcony. Argument one for many garden lovers would be the beauty of these flowers. They can undoubtedly transform any outdoor area into a colorful sea of flowers. On the balcony they decorate large flower boxes and attract many looks. On the terrace, geraniums are usually cultivated in large pots, but the hanging baskets decorated with these colorful flowers always steal the show. If you want to beautify your outdoor seating area, then you just know which balcony and garden flowers you can put on.
Easy-care classics that enchant
The geraniums can be easily combined with other garden plants and always create a wonderful look. They stand perfectly alongside verbena and form a stunning color harmony. The queen of flowers, the deliciously fragrant rose, doesn’t mind having beautiful geraniums close by. Outdoors, endless flower combinations are possible – geraniums can also be combined with herbs (sage, rosemary, lavender) and with other garden beauties such as daisies. Hobby gardeners who like to experiment can be sure that they will get an excellent eye-catcher.
The delicate scent of geraniums keeps mosquitoes and wasps away
In addition to the natural grace of pelargoniums, there is another argument for using them on the balcony and in the garden. There is a group of these flowers called scented geraniums. Its flowers are rather inconspicuous, but its leaves contain essential oils. They spread a wonderful scent that drives away pests and insects. That is, the natural beauty also has purely practical benefits! With that we want to close our article for today and wish you a wonderful summer full of magnificent flowers and fresh scents!
The geraniums bring a colorful variety to your outdoor area
The variety of colors of pelargoniums is endless
The geraniums bloom until the first frost in autumn
Here are the classics for lush balcony boxes
From white to pink and red to violet – numerous flower colors are possible with geraniums
Most varieties are long flowering and hardy
Geraniums are definitely the most popular balcony and garden flowers in Germany
