A Visual Guide to Geraniums Colors. Types and Care
Geraniums are one of the most iconic and popular flowering plants, brightening gardens, pots, and balconies with their cheerful blooms From vibrant reds to pale pastels, geraniums come in a rainbow of colors With over 200 species, they also vary widely in size, shape, and growing habits.
If you’re looking to add some floral beauty to your indoor or outdoor spaces, geraniums are an excellent choice. Let’s take a visual tour of these classic garden flowers. I’ll share pictures highlighting the range of geranium varieties and colors. You’ll also learn tips on how to care for these pretty plants.
Common Types of Geraniums
There are four main types of geraniums commonly grown as ornamental plants:
-
Zonal geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) – These are the classic garden geraniums, with large flower heads in shades of red, pink, white, lavender or salmon. The flowers have distinct “zones” of color.
-
Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) – Ivy geraniums are trailing plants with glossy, ivy-like leaves and small but abundant blooms. They cascade beautifully over containers.
-
Regal geraniums (Pelargonium x domesticum) – Regals have showy flower heads up to 5 inches wide, often in rich purples, blues and pinks with veining.
-
Scented geraniums – This diverse group is valued for aromatic foliage. Scented geraniums release fragrance when their leaves are touched or brushed.
Now let’s look at pictures of these popular geranium types, so you can compare their visual differences.
Zonal Geranium Images
The zonal geranium is the classic garden geranium most of us are familiar with. Here are some pictures showcasing their appearance:
-
Bright red zonal geraniums flowering profusely in a garden bed. The red “zones” on the petals are clearly visible.
-
Hot pink zonal geraniums in bloom in a hanging basket on a patio. Vibrant pink flowers contrast beautifully with the green foliage.
-
White zonal geraniums. Rather than zones, these have striking dark pink stripes radiating from the center of each flower.
-
Lavender zonal geranium with delicate purple blooms. A lovely pastel hue.
-
Salmon-orange zonal geraniums growing in window boxes, adding a tropical punch of color.
As you can see, zonal geraniums are extremely diverse and come in a spectacular range of hues! From bold hot pinks to pale whites, they infuse gardens with vibrant flower color.
Ivy Geranium Images
Next up are pictures showing ivy, or cascading, geraniums. With their trailing growth habit, these beauties look lovely in hanging pots, window boxes or container edges where they can spill gracefully downward.
-
Vibrant red ivy geranium cascading over the edge of a concrete planter box. Abundant blooms contrast nicely against the grey concrete background.
-
Pink ivy geranium flowing abundantly from a hanging basket on a front porch. A gorgeous display for a small space.
-
White ivy geranium studded with pristine flowers. This would make an elegant addition to any exterior space.
-
Purple ivy geranium showcasing abundant rich purple blooms that seem to shimmer in the sunlight.
-
Multicolored ivy geranium with blooms in a mix of pink, white and red. The trailing stems and mixed colors create visual interest.
With their trailing habit and non-stop flowers, ivy geraniums are perfect for containers of all kinds. They bring vertical spaces to life with curtain-like colors.
Regal Geranium Images
If you want showstopping floral drama, look no further than regal geraniums. Here are some regal geranium pictures that give you a feel for these ornamental beauties:
-
Vivid purplish-blue regal geranium with electric flowers up to 4 inches wide. Truly eye-catching!
-
Shocking pink regal geranium in bloom. The saturated pink flowers have darker pink veining for added depth.
-
Lavender regal geranium with ruffled blooms. A soft, feminine feel.
-
Red regal geranium flowering abundantly. This variety has rounded petals and a compact growing habit.
-
White regal geranium with delicate veins tracing each flower petal. Ethereal and elegant.
Regal geraniums demand attention with their bold, saturated colors and large blooms. They make fabulous focal points in containers or garden beds.
Scented Geranium Images
Lastly, let’s look at some pictures of scented geraniums. Grown for their fragrant foliage, these beauties release lovely aromas when touched:
-
Close-up of a lime-scented geranium leaf. When rubbed, it releases a delightful citrusy perfume.
-
Rose-scented geranium with grey-green leaves that smell like roses when brushed. Subtle but heavenly.
-
Mint-scented geranium featuring soft, fuzzy leaves that give off a cool, minty scent.
-
Cinnamon-scented geranium providing a spicy perfume reminiscent of the holiday season.
-
Close-up of a lemon rose geranium leaf releasing its signature lemon and rose scent when crushed.
With foliage that smells like everything from fruit to flowers, mint, and spices, scented geraniums are treasured for their aromatic qualities. Brush against the leaves or rub to release the perfume.
Growing and Caring for Geraniums
Now that you’ve seen the diversity of geranium types and colors, you may be inspired to grow some of these beautiful bloomers yourself. Here are some key tips for successfully growing geraniums:
-
Plant in well-draining soil and full sun (at least 6 hours per day). Provide good air circulation.
-
Water when the soil becomes partly dry. Take care not to overwater, as geraniums are prone to root rot.
-
Remove spent blooms regularly to encourage continuous flowering. Pinch back leggy stems to promote bushiness.
-
Fertilize every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
-
Bring potted geraniums indoors before frosts begin in fall. They like cool, sunny winter conditions indoors.
-
Propagate by taking 3-4 inch cuttings in summer. Root cuttings in potting mix before planting out.
With the right care, geraniums will reward you with nonstop flowers from spring until fall frost. Their wide range of colors and growth habits makes them extremely versatile plants. Use these pictures as inspiration to design gorgeous potted arrangements or garden beds bursting with vibrant geranium beauty.
Flower ResourcesDiscover the right flowers for your garden.
Different types of geraniums can be put into six groups. The most common are the zonal, ivy, regal, and scented types. The angel and unique types are less common.
Americana® Rose Ice Zonal Geranium. Photo by: Proven Winners.
Zonal geraniums are the colorful backbone of many summer gardens. Named for the darker area on the leaf that can be seen more clearly on some plants but not so much on others. They have tough stems with round, light to dark green leaves that are often speckled with darker colors and smell awful. Their flowers grow in clusters and can be single, semi-double, or double. Blooms come in shades of red, purple, pink, white, orange, and rarely yellow. Most zonals will grow to 24 inches tall and wide. There are dwarf and miniature varieties 5 to 8 inches in size.
Photo by: aniana / Shutterstock
Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) are trailing plants that can spread up to 48 inches. They are named for the lobed, sometimes pointed, leaves that resemble ivy (Hedera spp. ) plants. The bright, glossy green leaves can reach 3 inches across. Clusters of single or double flowers bloom in shades of red, pink, mauve, purple, or white.
Boldly® Coral. Photo by: Proven Winners.
This unique hybrid combines the best traits of zonal and ivy geraniums. The flowers of interspecific geraniums (Pelargonium interspecific) are big, like zonal geraniums, and they grow in a vigorous, semi-trailing way like ivy geraniums. Plants bloom prolifically and have good heat tolerance.
6 Quick tips to keep Geraniums Blooming
FAQ
Do geraniums like full sun or shade?
What is the secret to beautiful geraniums?
Do geraniums prefer pots or ground?
How many Geranium stock photos are there?
Browse 11,307 authentic geranium stock photos, high-res images, and pictures, or explore additional geranium oil or rose geranium stock images to find the right photo at the right size and resolution for your project. Pelargonium (geranium). Close-Up of Geranium (Pelargonium Copthorne), Geraniaceae, on a white background cut-out.
Are Geranium photos free?
Geranium photos for download. All pictures are free to use. Over 5.1 million+ high quality stock images, videos and music shared by our talented community. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Find images of Geranium ✓ Royalty-free ✓ No attribution required ✓ High quality images.
What is a Geranium flower?
Branch with pale pink flower of garden plant Zonal pelargonium (also known as geranium, storksbill, cranesbill). Watercolor hand drawn painting illustration isolated on a white background. Branch with pale pink flower of garden plant Zonal pelargonium (also known as geranium, storksbill, cranesbill).
What do geraniums look like?
The flowers are five-petaled and are borne in clusters or umbels. They can be in shades of red, pink, purple, white or salmon. Its growing habit include trailing (ivy-leaved geraniums), upright (zonal geraniums), and bushy or spreading forms. These flowers are an excellent addition to the summer annual garden.
Where do geranium flowers come from?
“Sweet Scented Geranium” flowers (or Rose Geranium, Wild Malva) in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Its Latin name is Pelargonium Graveolens (Syn Geranium Terebinthinaceum), native to South Africa. Branch with pale pink flower of garden plant Zonal pelargonium (also known as geranium, storksbill, cranesbill).
What does Pelargonium geranium look like?
Pelargonium citrosum, commonly known as the Citronella geranium or Mosquito plant has bright green leaves that emit a strong lemon-like fragrance when crushed. It has a bushy growth habit and its good for container gardening or as a bedding plant in garden borders. The blooms are usually pale pink or white in color.