Geranium (Annual)
Pelargonium
Geranium (Annual) blooms from May through October.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Geranium (Annual)
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. Expect it to reach about 1.3 ft tall and 1.3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Geranium (Annual)
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Geranium (Annual) into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring. Planted then, it flowers from May to October.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar.
10 more colors in the Geraniums family
Same family, similar care - pick the one you are growing.
Good to know about Geranium (Annual)
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Toxic to dogs, cats and horses via geraniol and linalool, mostly causing vomiting, loss of appetite and dermatitis; NC State rates it low-severity, with cats most sensitive. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
The annual 'geranium' is really Pelargonium, a different genus from the hardy perennial cranesbill (true Geranium). Only the Pelargonium is the pet-toxic one. per NC State
How much sun it needs
Full sun everywhere, but the minimum varies by climate: NC State wants at least 6 hours; Clemson allows 4 hours, with afternoon shade helping in the hot South. per NC State and Clemson
How drought-tolerant it is
Established plants in the ground take brief dry spells, but containers and heavily flowering plants want even moisture and should never wilt. Never waterlog: wet feet rot the roots. per University of Minnesota and Clemson
Keep a favorite over winter
Though grown as an annual, you can overwinter a cultivar: as a cool sunny houseplant, from 3 to 4 in stem cuttings, or stored bare-root and dormant. per Wisconsin
Corky leaf blisters (edema)
Overwatering plus low light causes edema: tiny water-soaked blisters that turn brown and corky on leaf undersides. Water in the morning, add light, and never waterlog. per Cornell
Bacterial blight has no cure
Bacterial blight (Xanthomonas), specific to geraniums, causes V-shaped leaf spots, wilting and stem rot, spreads fast, and has no chemical cure: destroy infected plants and sanitize your tools. per Penn State
A modest pollinator draw
NC State notes the fragrant flowers and leaves attract butterflies and pollinators, but many double-flowered zonal types offer little nectar or pollen, so treat this as a light benefit. per NC State
What pairs well with Geranium (Annual)
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Candytuft
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; opens in mid spring and overlaps into this one's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; lower at 10 in, for the front of the border.
False Indigo
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it; blue against red, for contrast.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it; orange sits close to red on the wheel.
Little Bluestem
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it; orange sits close to red on the wheel.
Siberian Squill
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border; blue against red, for contrast.
Windflower
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 6 in, for the front of the border; blue against red, for contrast.
Feather Reed Grass
Shares full sun and moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Switchgrass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 4.9 ft, for the layer behind it; pink sits close to red on the wheel.
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