What is the difference between a pelargonium and a geranium?
The flowers of geranium and pelargonium are not the same. Geranium flowers have five similar petals; pelargonium blooms have two upper petals which are different from the three lower petals. Within the Pelargonium genus are perennials, sub-shrubs, shrubs and succulents. All up, there are around 280 species.
Why do we call pelargoniums geraniums?
The naming problem occurred in the 17th century when the first pelargoniums were brought to Europe and were called geraniums, due to their similarity to the perennial plant, and so the name geranium has been used ever since!
What is pelargonium good for?
Pelargonium sidoides is an herb that has been used in traditional medicine in South Africa for centuries to treat infectious respiratory disease, dysentery, and diarrhea. The root extracts are used in Germany for the treatment of respiratory infections (1).
What is the common name for pelargonium?
geraniums
Pelargonium /ˌpɛlɑːrˈɡoʊniəm/ is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 280 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as geraniums, pelargoniums, or storksbills. Geranium is also the botanical name and common name of a separate genus of related plants, also known as cranesbills.
Is pelargonium a perennial?
The geranium and pelargonium are two varieties in the Geraniaceae family of plants. Geraniums are perennials that return each year. Pelargoniums are annuals that can be semi-hardy in some climates, but they’re generally used for one season.
Are pelargoniums annual or perennial?
Pelargoniums, commonly known as ‘geraniums’, are very ornamental perennial plants producing lots of extremely colourful flowers for months on end. Some start to flower in spring, but mainly from early June to the first severe frosts of autumn. If grown indoors they can flower all year round.
Is Pelargonium a perennial?
Do pelargoniums need sun?
Grow pelargoniums in borders or containers. In borders or beds, plant in fertile, neutral to alkaline soil. Most flower best in full sun. However, Regal cultivars prefer partial shade and Zonal cultivars will tolerate some shade.
Why is geranium oil so expensive?
European demand for rose geranium oil is met by imports. Historically, this oil has been produced in Europe. However, production is now considered too expensive as it is labour intensive. Moreover, the plants perform better in warmer climates.
Do Pelargoniums come back every year?
How do you keep a pelargonium flowering?
Geraniums need oxygen around their roots which is why overwatering needs to be avoided. Giving your plants a regular feed of special geranium fertiliser will significantly increase the number of flowers you get. Feed them every week – the fertiliser contains high levels of potash which encourages flower production.
How did the Pelargonium geranium get its name?
It is one of the parents of the widely cultivated plant Pelargonium × hortorum, often called “geranium”, “zonal geranium” or “zonal pelargonium”. The genus name Pelargonium, in scientific Latin, derives from the Greek pelargós (πελαργός), designating the stork, the shape of the fruit evoking the beak of the bird.
What kind of plant is Pelargonium × hortorum?
Pelargonium × hortorum, (also called zonal geranium, garden geranium), is a nothospecies of Pelargonium most commonly used as an ornamental plant. It is a hybrid between Pelargonium zonale and Pelargonium inquinans.
Where does Pelargonium zonale live in the world?
Pelargonium zonale is a species of Pelargonium native to southern Africa in the western regions of the Cape Provinces, in the geranium family. It is one of the parents of the widely cultivated plant Pelargonium × hortorum, often called “geranium”, “zonal geranium” or “zonal pelargonium”.
Where does the horse shoe pelargonium come from?
Pelargonium zonale. Pelargonium zonale, known as horse-shoe pelargonium or wildemalva in Afrikaans, is a wild species of Pelargonium native to southern Africa west of Cape Province, belonging to the geranium family, Geraniaceae. It is one of the parents of the widely cultivated plant Pelargonium × hortorum, often called a “geranium”,…