Geranium: the birthplace of the plant. Houseplants geranium homeland

We know geranium as an unpretentious indoor plant that delights with its numerous bright flowers from spring until the snow. Not everyone knows that there is another type of geranium that grows quietly in open ground. The frost-resistant “sister” can be found in the garden, forest or swamp. Botanists divided them into two varieties, one of which is called “geranium”, and the other was given the name “pelargonium”. It is she who has become the pet of almost everyone who breeds flowers. Both genera belong to the same Geranium family and have the same origin.

The birthplace of the geranium plant was South Africa. In different parts of the Republic of South Africa there are several types of climate: Mediterranean, tropical, subtropical and temperate. As a result, the flora turned out to be very diverse and variegated. Unusual representatives of the plant world have been transported from here since the 16th century. Trade ships from the Old World began to land on the shores of Africa.

Sailors often stopped at the Cape of Good Hope during long journeys. At that time, Europeans were interested not only in the culture of the local population and trade with them, but also in the flora and fauna of the mainland. Naturalists immediately noticed the bright and varied flowers growing freely underfoot, and took specimens home for further breeding. Among the plants was geranium. Breeders became interested in the unusual and beautiful flower and began to actively adapt it to new living conditions. Gradually it spread throughout the world, perfectly adapting to the climate in which it found itself. That is why today it is so unusual for us to hear that the birthplace of the geranium plant was a hot country.

The first mentions of geranium appeared in Europe around the 17th century. It appeared in Russia at the beginning of the 18th century, and in the 19th century. became a house plant in every aristocratic house. Certain types of geranium remained “wild”, grew in forests, meadows, and swamps, calmly tolerating harsh climatic conditions. Others “turned” into indoor heat-loving beauties. This is how a type of domestic geranium emerged, which was called pelargonium. Over time, he became completely different from his meadow “sister”. Today the two flowers are very different from each other, despite their shared ancestry.

Breeders have developed many varieties of geranium. They differ in color and flower shape. There are about 400 species of this plant on earth. In nature, it can be found in New Zealand, Turkey, Madagascar, other species grow in Russia.

Currently, many varieties of geranium can be seen in the plant’s homeland, Africa. There it looks like our usual indoor pelargonium.

We will tell you about it in more detail. Homemade pelargonium is divided into two main types:

• bush (these are lush, low plants);
• ampelous (ivy-leaved pelargonium with long shoots creeping like a grapevine).

Among bush pelargoniums there are flowering varieties with bright lush inflorescences and fragrant ones, which are valued for their fragrant leaves.

The most popular among gardeners are bush geraniums:

• zonal (with a border around the edge of the flower);
• royal (with large flowers).

The geranium plant is native to South Africa. Many indoor crops, such as chlorophytums, clivias, sansevierias and others, originated from there. Being thermophilic and light-loving, finding themselves in Europe and then in Russia, they could only survive at home.

Over several centuries, geranium has adapted well to our changeable climate, but just like its southern relatives, it loves the sun and warmth. Therefore, if you decide to grow this flower, find the brightest place for it in the apartment. Windows should face south or southwest.

In the summer, pelargonium can be used to decorate a balcony or. This plant loves direct sunlight and will delight you with a large number of flowers. In extreme heat, it is advisable to cover it a little.

Temperature

Indoor geranium grows well at 20 - 25°, but in winter it is better to place it in a cooler place. She will feel great at 10 - 15°.

Watering

Pelargonium loves moisture, although it should not be flooded. The optimal frequency of watering is once every two days. For favorable growth, the flower requires drainage from expanded clay or pebbles. It will absorb excess moisture, which means that the roots of the plant will not rot or become sick.

In winter, geranium is almost not watered; at this time it “sleeps” until spring.

Do I need to replant geraniums?

This plant does not like to be disturbed unnecessarily, so replanting can be done only when roots emerge from the drainage hole. Regular garden soil can be used for planting. Do not let geraniums grow high, as this will reduce the number of flowers. It needs to be pruned periodically, then the bushes will be lush, and many inflorescences will appear on them.

Article date: 06/25/2007

Family: Geraniums (Geraniaceae).

Common name: Geranium.

Homeland: mainly in South Africa.

Bloom: depending on the species from spring to autumn.

Height: fast.

Light: bright. The plant tolerates direct sunlight.

Temperature: in summer - indoor. In winter, pelargoniums are kept as cool as possible, at a temperature of 8-12?.

Watering: moderate, since pelargoniums do not like waterlogging. In winter, plants are watered very sparingly.

Air humidity: does not play a significant role. On hot days you can spray.

Feeding: 2-3 months after transplantation, pelargonium is fed with superphosphate, which stimulates flowering. Plants do not tolerate fresh organic fertilizers well.

Trimming: yellowed and drying leaves must be cut off, leaving the lower part of the petiole on the stem.

Rest period: from November to February. The plant is kept in a cool (8-12°C) place, watered extremely carefully.

Transfer: young ones are replanted annually, adults - as needed.

Reproduction: seeds, cuttings.

Pelargonium ( Pelargonium L'Her) is one of the most common and beloved indoor and balcony plants, often incorrectly called geranium. Natural species of pelargonium, and there are from 280 to 350 plants of the geranium family, are distributed mainly in South Africa.

These are herbaceous plants and subshrubs, less often shrubs, sometimes succulents, with leaves of various shapes - whole, lobed or deeply dissected. The flowers are collected in umbrella-shaped inflorescences.
Unlike true geranium (genus Geranium ), in which the flowers are absolutely regular (i.e. with several planes of symmetry), pelargonium flowers are bilaterally symmetrical (have one plane of symmetry).
The fruit, a long narrow capsule that becomes thinner towards the top, resembles the shape of a stork’s beak, which is where the name of the genus comes from (from the Greek pelargos – stork).

Many species are widespread ornamental plants and are represented in the collections of botanical gardens; some are valuable raw materials for extracting essential oils used in the perfume and soap industries. A number of species are suitable for growing indoors.

Some people (precisely some - a number of people suffer from the smell of pelargonium, it all depends on the characteristics of the body) who inhale the smell of the plant calm down and their insomnia goes away. Pelargonium helps with hypertension, cardiovascular diseases. It also has a beneficial effect on metabolic processes, the secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract, the endocrine system and sexual potency. IN folk medicine Treat with a decoction of pelargonium leaves headache. Pelargonium preparations relieve headaches and normalize sleep. An infusion of the herb is drunk for dysentery, acute and chronic enterocolitis, and water decoctions are used for pulmonary hemorrhages, tonsillitis, they wash festering wounds, and relieve aching joints.
Pelargonium essential oil, obtained by steam distillation, contains substances that have a detrimental effect on some pathogens (therefore it is used to treat infectious diseases). Essential oil refreshes the air and cleanses it of harmful impurities.
Compresses with crushed pelargonium leaves are made for patients with radiculitis or osteochondrosis.
During the hot summer months, pelargoniums repel flies.

Plants that shed leaves during dormancy:

Pelargonium fluffy-leaved (Pelargonium crithmifolium Sm.)- photo. The plant is native to South and South-West Africa. Succulents, fork-branched, shrubs, with creeping shoots up to 1.5 cm thick. The leaves are pinnately lobed, 5-8 cm long, slightly pubescent or smooth, bluish. Flowers of 4-6 are collected in umbels, white, with red spots on the throat; pedicels 1-2.5 cm long. Grows well in moderately warm rooms. Propagated by cuttings and seeds.

Pelargonium quadrangular (Pelargonium tetragonum(L. f.) L'Her.). Homeland - South Africa.a Bushy plant 30-70 cm high, with stems branched at the base, erect or lodging, consisting of three-tetrahedral segments 6-8 mm wide of various colors - from light green to green-gray. The leaves are alternate, on long petioles, slightly pubescent, 2-5 cm wide, and usually dry out and fall off in winter. The leaf blade is heart-shaped with a red-brown edge. In spring or summer, flowers appear on the plant, resembling a butterfly in shape, with a color ranging from white-cream to pale pink, with 3 large upper petals and 2 small lower ones. Grows well in a lighted and ventilated room with a temperature of at least 10°C. Watering in the spring-summer period is plentiful, in the autumn-winter period - limited. The soil is nutritious with good drainage. Propagated in spring and summer, by cuttings from the central part of the stems, rooted in a sandy, almost dry substrate.

Evergreen shrubs and subshrubs:

Pelargonium angularis (Pelargonium angulosum Mill.). It is found in the southwestern part of the Cape Province (South Africa). Plants up to 1 m tall. The leaves are oval, 3–5-angled, lobed, broadly wedge-shaped, pointed at the base. The petiole is short. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered umbrella. The flowers are bright red. Blooms in August-October. As part of parental pairs, it was used in work on breeding garden pelargoniums (as a result of crossings with P. grandiflorum).

Pelargonium capitata (Pelargonium capitatum(L.) L'Her.)- photo. Lives on wet soils on the coastal dunes in the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreens, subshrubs 0.5–0.6 m tall, densely pubescent; shoots are straight, widely spread. Leaves 3–5 obtuse, serrated; stipules broadly heart-shaped, dense. The inflorescence is a multi-flowered umbrella. The flowers are sessile, purple-pink - photo. Blooms in July-August. Leaves with a pleasant aroma; extracted from them essential oil, reminiscent of rose oil in smell. It is an indoor plant.

Pelargonium curly (Pelargonium crispum(P. J. Bergius) L'Her.). It grows in the southwestern part of the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreen plants, shrubs 0.3–0.6 m tall, highly branched. The leaves are arranged in two rows, small, almost heart-shaped, 3-lobed, curly at the edges, unevenly toothed, hard, with a pleasant lemon aroma. Flowers are collected in groups of 2–3, on short stalks - photo. Blooms in July–August. It is an indoor plant.

Pelargonium capulata (Pelargonium cucullatum(L.) L'Her.)- photo. The plant's homeland is the Cape Province (South Africa). Strongly branched shrubs, shoots densely pubescent. The leaves are kidney-shaped, densely pubescent. Umbrellas multi-flowered. The flowers are purple-red. Blooms in August–September. Form Flora pleno It has double flowers. Used as part of parental pairs in breeding work garden varieties pelargonium.

Pelargonium grandiflora (Pelargonium grandiflorum(Andrews) Willd.). The plant's homeland is South-West Africa, Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreens, branched subshrubs up to 90 cm tall. Leaves are kidney-shaped, rounded, more or less 5-7 lobed or dissected, glabrous or slightly silky-hairy, coarsely toothed at the edges; stipules free, ovate. Peduncle with 2–3 flowers. The flowers are 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter, white, with reddish veins. Blooms in April–June. As part of parental pairs, it was used in work on breeding large-flowered garden pelargoniums.

Pelargonium fragrant (Pelargonium graveolens L'Her.). Grows in the southern and southwestern parts of the Cape Province (South Africa). The shrubs are highly branched, up to 1 m tall, with short glandular hairs. Leaves 5–7 lobed; the lobes are deeply notched (almost pinnately notched), pubescent on both sides, with a pleasant strong aroma. The flowers are collected in multi-flowered umbels, pink, dark pink. Blooms profusely in summer.

Pelargonium staining (Pelargonium inquinans(L.) L'Her.)- photo. The homeland of the plant is Natal (South Africa). Shrubs up to 1.5 m tall; young shoots are more or less fleshy and pubescent. The leaves are rounded-reniform (sometimes finely lobed), glandular-pubescent; stipules broadly heart-shaped. The flowers are collected in umbels, on short stalks, scarlet-red. It blooms from May to autumn, sometimes in winter. Is one of the ancestral forms of garden zonal pelargoniums.

Pelargonium fragrant (Pelargonium odoratissimum(L.) L'Her.)- photo. The plant's homeland is the Cape Province (South Africa). Shrubs with a short, 15–22 cm tall, branched trunk; branches are short, herbaceous; crown is rounded. The leaves are heart-shaped, rounded, 2.5–5 cm wide, bluntly toothed at the edges, softly silky pubescent, with a strong pleasant aroma; stipules triangular, small. Flowers of 5–10 are collected in umbels, white to pink. Blooms in summer. Widely distributed in culture, suitable for growing indoors.

Pelargonium corymbose (Pelargonium peltatum(L.) L'Her.). Homeland - Southeast Africa. Shrubs; branches are branched, drooping, bare or covered with small hairs, slightly ribbed. The leaves are thyroid-shaped, 7–10 cm wide, 5-lobed, entire, glossy green, glabrous, sometimes finely pubescent, fleshy. Flowers of 5–8 are collected in umbels, pink-red, white. Blooms from spring to autumn. There are many forms. As part of parental pairs, it was used in the breeding of garden pelargoniums. Often used as hanging plant, grows well in rooms.

Pelargonium pink (Pelargonium radens H. E. Moore ( P. radula(Cavend.) L'Her.))- photo. Grows on mountain slopes, along river banks sandy soils in the southern and southwestern parts of the Cape Province (South Africa). Branched shrubs, up to 1.5 m tall, with hard short hairs. The leaves are deeply divided; the lobes are linear, densely covered with hairs above and softer hairs below, with curved edges, with a strong pleasant aroma. Inflorescence of 4–5 small flowers. The peduncle is densely pubescent. The flowers are pale purple, with dark veins - photo. Blooms in summer.

Pelargonium zonal (Pelargonium zonale(L.) L'Her.). Synonym: Geranium zonal (Geranium zonale L.). It is found in shrubby semi-savanna in the south-eastern and southern parts of the Cape Province (South Africa). Evergreen subshrubs 0.8–1 (1.5) m tall; shoots are fleshy, pubescent. The leaves are heart-shaped-rounded, entire or weakly lobed, glabrous or (only a few) softly hairy, with a brown or dark brown stripe on top - a girdle. Stipules are wide, oblong-heart-shaped. The inflorescence is multi-flowered. The flowers are sessile, carmine-red. It blooms for a long time - from May to September (October). It is one of the main parent forms of garden hybrid zonal pelargoniums, propagated vegetatively.

Pelargoniums, widespread in indoor floriculture:

Hybrids and varieties have become widespread in culture Pelargonium grandiflorum hybridum hort., Pelargonium peltatum hybridum hort., Pelargonium zonale hybridum hort. They have found application as potted plants, and are also used ( P. zonale hybridura hort.) in floral design.

Pelargonium grandiflora hybrid, or P. english (Pelargonium grandifiorum hybridum hort. ( Pelargonium domesticam Bailey P. grandiflorum hort.)). Shrubs and subshrubs with rapidly woody shoots, mostly single-shoot. Leaves without a brown girdle on the upper surface, not dissected or only slightly lobed, serrated at the edges, with a faint aroma when torn. The flowers are collected in umbels on long peduncles, simple, large, 5 cm in diameter, red, pink or white, with dark spots on the petals.
Some of the varieties:
Enzette Anna Melle- flowers are bright red;
Enzette Perle- flowers are light carmine pink;
Autumn Haze- orange and salmon flowers;
Destiny- white flowers;
Geranimo- flowers are bright red;
Mont Blanc- flowers are white, with dark purple spots;
Perle von Clemstal- flowers are white, with a pinkish tint, with red spots;
Symphonic– the flowers are pink, with a lilac tint and with black spots.

Pelargonium zonal garden (Pelargonium zonale hort.). Plants with thick shoots that become woody with age, especially at the bottom. The leaves are rounded to kidney-shaped, slightly lobed at the edges, pubescent, with a more or less prominent reddish or fawn rim. The flowers are collected in umbels, red, pink, white, sometimes lilac, simple, semi-double and double.
In ornamental horticulture, the species is represented by numerous hybrids and varieties. It is the main industrial crop and is used in floral decoration in all countries.
From varieties P. zonale hort. The following have become widespread:
Dresdener Rubin- scarlet flowers, semi-double; used for
casings and as potting;
Enzett Richards Schrader- salmon-pink, double flowers; early-blooming variety;
Westfalenstar- flowers are ruby-red, semi-double.
Radio- scarlet flowers, semi-double;
Salmon Irene- salmon flowers, large, slightly double;
Erfolg- salmon flowers, double, densely leafy; used for lining, as potting and for decorating balconies;
Meteor- flowers scarlet-red, double, etc.
In culture there are hybrids between - Pelargonium zonale And Pelargonium peltatum .
Varieties Pelargonium zonale hort. valued for their variegated foliage, abundant and long flowering throughout the growing season in open ground; They are widely used for planting on borders, edges and flower beds; they are also grown as potted plants for rooms.

Pelargonium thyroid garden ( Pelargonium peltatum hort.). Shoots hanging or creeping. The leaves are thick, smooth, glossy, sometimes finely pubescent, almost round, 5-lobed or 5-angled, entire, more or less ciliated, green, sometimes with a brown zone. The flowers are simple, semi-double and double, red, lilac, pink, white.
Widely used for decorating balconies and as a potted plant.
Common varieties:
Amethyst- lilac flowers;
Lachskonigin- salmon pink flowers;
Ville de Paris- salmon pink flowers;
Holstein- pink flowers;
Galilee- salmon-pink flowers; and etc.

Plant care:

The plants are photophilous and tolerate direct sunlight; it is best to keep them on a south-facing window close to the glass. Plants tolerate both northern and eastern windows, but with a lack of light in winter they stretch out. In winter, pelargonium can be illuminated fluorescent lamps. The room with pelargonium must be ventilated.
In summer, plants are recommended to be placed outdoors. When taking plants outdoors, they should not be knocked out of their pots in order to dig them into the ground, but rather buried in the soil in the area with the pot so that they do not grow too wildly to the detriment of flowering. In September - October, when frost approaches, the plants are moved indoors.

The temperature in summer is room temperature. In winter, pelargoniums are kept as cool as possible, at a temperature of 8-12?. Winter period and the period until April are decisive for subsequent flowering, since the establishment flower buds occurs at a relatively low temperature (11 - 13?) for 2.5–3 months. This period is characterized by short days, which is also significant, since pelargoniums are short-day plants.

Watering is moderate, since pelargoniums do not like waterlogging. Watering should be done two to three days after upper layer the substrate will dry out. In winter, plants are watered very moderately to restrain growth during the winter lack of light and prevent them from stretching. In addition, overwatering of plants in winter when kept cool often leads to wilting of leaves and rotting of the root collar and roots.

Pelargonium does not require constant spraying; the plant tolerates dry air well. On hot days summer days Periodic spraying of the plant will be beneficial.

2-3 months after transplantation, pelargonium is fed with superphosphate, which stimulates flowering. Plants do not tolerate fresh organic fertilizers well.

Yellowed and drying leaves must be cut off, leaving the lower part of the petiole on the stem. If they are torn off, rotting may begin on the exposed tissues. The rotten parts are immediately cut off to living tissue, and the sections are sprinkled with charcoal powder.

Every year in March, young plants are transplanted into fresh soil mixture. At the same time, they are heavily pruned, leaving 2-5 buds on each shoot, in order to subsequently obtain low, lush, abundantly flowering specimens. Overgrown pelargoniums are replanted only if necessary (when the pot becomes cramped). The substrate selected is neutral or slightly acidic (pH about 6), lightweight, and highly permeable to air and water. May consist of equal parts of turf, leaf soil, peat, humus and sand with a small addition of charcoal. Good drainage required.

Pelargoniums can be propagated by seeds. When propagated by seeds, the parental characteristics are split, so sowing with seeds is used for breeding purposes.
Seeds are sown in spring in boxes or bowls in a substrate composed of turf, peat soil and sand in equal volumes. At a temperature of 20–22? Shoots appear after 12 days. Seedlings dive into 5-centimeter pots, and after weaving a clod of earth, they are transferred to 9-centimeter ones. Seedlings bloom within a year, but more often after 14 months.

Pelargonium is most often propagated apical cuttings with 3-5 leaves, in spring (February–March) and summer (July–August). Cuttings are cut from apical and lateral shoots with 3-4 nodes, making an oblique cut under the bud. The cut cuttings are slightly withered for several hours, the sections are dipped in charcoal powder (one crushed heteroauxin tablet is mixed per 100-150 g of powder), and then several are planted in a pot or bowl, placing them along the edge of the dish.
To form a lush bush, the apical bud is pinched. The planted cuttings are placed in a well-lit place (without direct sunlight) and at first (before rooting) they are moistened carefully, only by spraying. Cuttings take root in 2-3 weeks.
Rooted cuttings are planted in pots one at a time, without pruning, so that they bloom faster. The smaller the pot, the more abundant the flowering will be. Plants grown from cuttings taken in August bloom already in April, and with spring cuttings, flowering occurs only in mid-summer.

Some hobbyists take cuttings of zonal pelargonium in September. Cuttings with 2-3 nodes are cut from shoots that do not have buds, so as not to reduce the decorativeness of the plant, wither, and then all large leaves are removed. The lower cut of the cuttings is sprinkled with charcoal powder. The cuttings are planted in a box filled with a mixture of peat (or greenhouse) soil (1 part) and sand (2 parts). During the rooting period, the cuttings are watered moderately, and the room is regularly ventilated.
After the formation of 4-5 normal leaves, the cuttings are transplanted into 7-centimeter pots or paper cups. The earth mixture is made up of turf soil (8 parts), humus (2 parts), sand (one part) and add a little flower mixture with microfertilizers. Seedlings are watered warm water.
In early February, the plants are pinched, after which young shoots quickly grow and buds appear. By the end of April - beginning of May, the plants begin to bloom.

Pelargonium thyroid cuttings, cut with 1-2 leaves, take root well in coarse sand in good light. In the first 2-3 days they are not watered, and then watered moderately. Plants cannot be sprayed.
They take root in 2-3 weeks. Rooted cuttings are planted one or two at a time in 7-centimeter pots, then transferred to 11-centimeter ones. The nutrient mixture is prepared in the same way as for cuttings of zonal pelargonium.

Plants of zonal and shield pelargonium, grown from spring cuttings, bloom in July - August. Two- and three-year-old plants bloom well. Pelargonium grandiflora blooms in the second or third year. Without pruning it blooms more profusely than when pruned. Plants grown from cuttings rooted in August bloom earlier in the rooms. Rooted cuttings are left unplanted for the winter. In the spring, they are planted in separate small pots and, so that they bloom faster, do not pinch.

Precautionary measures:
all parts of plants of some types of pelargonium are slightly poisonous: they can cause contact dermatitis.

Possible difficulties:

Due to lack of light they may fall lower leaves, the stem is stretched and exposed; the plant blooms poorly.

Lack of flowering in pelargonium.
May be caused by a warm winter, provided the plant is healthy.

The lower leaves turn yellow and their edges dry out.
The reason is lack of moisture.
Due to lack of moisture, the edges of the lower leaves turn yellow and dry out.

The lower leaves turn yellow, and they wither or rot.
The reason is excess moisture in the soil. Remove rotting leaves, sprinkle with crushed iha charcoal. Watering should be done two to three days after the top layer of the substrate has dried.

Blackening of the stem at the base indicates the “blackleg” disease, which destroys the plant. Cut off the healthy part and root it. In the future, follow the watering schedule. If the plant is severely damaged by the disease, then the plant can no longer be saved and the soil is thrown away. The pot after a diseased plant should be thoroughly disinfected.

Due to waterlogging of the soil, small swellings on the leaves may occur - watery soft pads (edema). Follow the watering schedule.

Due to waterlogging of the soil, gray rot may occur on the plant.

Materials used in the article:

Saakov S.G. Greenhouse and indoor plants and their care. - L.: Nauka, 1985. - 621 p.

Indoor floriculture / R. Milevskaya, Y. Vies. - Mn.: Book House, 2005. - 608 p., ill.

Cacti and other succulents: Directory / D. Beffa; Per. from Italian I.V. Artyushina; Phot. K. Dani. - M.: AST Publishing House LLC: Astrel Publishing House LLC, 2003. -335, p.: ill.

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Family: geraniums (Geraniaceae).

Motherland

Geranium is ubiquitous in temperate climates. Large-rhizome geranium is found mainly on the coast Mediterranean Sea on rocky mountain slopes in high mountain regions. The mixed forests of Belarus are considered the homeland of blood-red geranium. Hill geranium is common in the southern regions of Europe, as well as in the Caucasus and Central Asia (excluding the desert zone). White-flowered geranium is common in Siberia, in the upper reaches of the Lena River, in the Sayans, on the southern coast of Lake Baikal, in Dauria. Geranium Vlasov is also found in Siberia, in the upper reaches of the Lena, on the Baikal and Vitim highlands, in Dauria, as well as along the banks of the Selenga River.

Form: herbaceous plant.

Description

Geranium is the name of a genus of perennial herbaceous plants. It’s interesting that in everyday life, ‘geranium’ often means not geranium itself, but a completely different plant - . In particular, royal geranium, zonal geranium and other indoor geraniums belong to the genus Pelargonium. However, real geranium has a number of significant differences. For example, geranium is more winter-hardy.

(G. macrorrhizum) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a straight, falsely branched stem up to 20-40 centimeters high. It has three-, five- or seven-part palmate lower - petiolate and upper - sessile leaves, the length of which is 10-20 centimeters. The leaf blade is round in shape. Dark pink flowers are located at the top of a short (up to 1-6 centimeters long) peduncle. The sepals are ovoid in shape. The fruit is an elongated oval achene Brown about 2-6 millimeters long. Flowering occurs in early summer. The leaves and flowers of large-rhizome geranium have a pleasant sweetish strawberry-pineapple aroma. It is cultivated in the Carpathians, Crimea, as well as in the central and northern regions of Europe.

Blood red geranium (G. sanguineum) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a creeping rhizome and an erect, forked-branched stem about 20-60 centimeters high. The stem petiolate leaves are palmate, five- or seven-parted, arranged oppositely. Single flowers are attached to stalks growing in the axils of the leaves and are bright red in color. With the arrival of autumn, all above-ground parts of the plant turn red. Flowering continues from June to July.

Meadow geranium (G. pratense) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a straight, branched, slightly pubescent stem up to 20-60 centimeters high and blue-violet flowers with dark veins on the petals. Flowering begins in June and lasts until August.

Hill geranium (G. collinum) is a perennial herbaceous plant with a thin rhizome and a straight ascending stem up to 20-40 centimeters high. It has round, palmately divided leaves of bright green color. On long stalks attached to the stem in the axils of the leaves, there are two pink-violet flowers of regular shape with a diameter of up to 3.5 centimeters. The fruit is a capsule. Flowering begins in May and continues until July.

Geranium Roberta , storks beak, or stinky (G. robertiani) is a herbaceous plant with a highly branched stem up to 20-50 centimeters high and reddish shoots. The leaves are petiolate, opposite, palmately divided, pinnate, deep green in color and, when rubbed, have a sharp unpleasant smell. Each peduncle bears two bright red flowers with lighter stripes. Flowering lasts from May to September. The fruit is bivalve, shaped like a stork's beak.

white-flowered geranium (G. albiflorum) is a perennial plant with a straight, slightly pubescent stem about 30-60 centimeters high. The leaves are up to 7 centimeters wide, located at the base of the root and have a pentagonal shape in outline. The leaf blade is divided into 5-7 diamond-shaped segments. There are 2 flowers attached to each peduncle. Light purple, violet or snow-white flowers form a corymbose inflorescence.

Geranium Vlasova (G. vlassovianum) is a perennial herbaceous plant with an erect, slightly pubescent stem about 30-50 centimeters high. The leaves are 5-7 centimeters wide, three- or five-parted. The edge of the upper part of the segments is jagged. Long peduncles are located in the axils of the leaves and bear two light lilac flowers with dark veins.

(G. palustre) is a perennial rhizomatous plant with purple flowers up to 3 centimeters in diameter. Height up to 70 centimeters. Flowering time is June-July.

(G. magnificum) is a hybrid perennial plant up to 50 centimeters high. The flowers are lilac. Blooms in July.

(G. ibericum) is an unpretentious perennial plant up to 80 centimeters high. The flowers are quite large, up to 4.5 centimeters in diameter, purple in color, collected in umbrella inflorescences. Blooms from mid-June for 40 days.

Himalayan geranium (G. himalayense) - a plant of the subalpine meadows of the Himalayas. Widely used in culture late XIX V. Like all geraniums, it is a rhizomatous plant with a rosette of pubescent leaves. The growth pattern is bushy, covering the soil with shoots. Height 30-60 cm. Leaves are round, up to 10 cm in diameter, five-membered, with unevenly dissected lobes. The flowers are large, 4-5 cm in diameter, arranged two on a peduncle, of an original bluish-violet color with reddish veins. Three dark veins are visible on the calyx. The inflorescences are fragrant, large, shield-shaped. Himalayan geranium blooms at the end of May and blooms all summer.

Geranium forest (G. sylvaticum) - plant of forests, glades, meadows of Europe, Western Siberia, Central Asia. A brush-rooted plant with long roots. Growth habit: bushy, tall, spreading in different directions. Stems are few, straight, up to 80 cm tall, hairy. The leaves are basal, on long hairy petioles, round in outline, seven-parted, with ovate lobes, coarsely toothed. The growing season ends early in August. Flowers are numerous, in loose inflorescence, two flowers per peduncle, wide open, lilac-purple or violet, color may vary. It blooms at the end of May, blooms for about 20 days, the seeds ripen in June. Many varieties of forest geranium are cultivated.

Blue geranium , or gray, or ashy (G. cinereum). It grows wild in southern Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caucasus. Perennial. In cultivation since 1830. It forms a low, 10-15 cm, bush with rounded 5-7-lobed leaves up to 6 cm wide on petioles. The leaves have a characteristic gray-green tint. Stems rise above them, on which lilac-pink flowers grow in twos. Blooms profusely in July-August, bears fruit in August-September.

Growing conditions

The lighting is intense, geranium prefers areas open to sunlight. The soils are loose, nutritious, fertile, good.

Application

Geranium is used in culture to create group flower arrangements, for registration, and.

Large-rhizome geranium is used in folk medicine as a medicinal plant with bactericidal, wound-healing and central nervous system stimulating effects. In addition, large-rhizome geranium is used in the cosmetics industry and cooking for flavoring sweet dishes, cookies and drinks. Blood red geranium also belongs to the group medicinal plants and in the form of a decoction prepared from the rhizome, it is used in folk medicine in the treatment of enterocolitis and malignant tumors.

Care

Watering is regular, depending on the type, abundant or moderate. In May, weeding and fertilizing are necessary. During the summer, to preserve the decorative appearance of the plant, it is advisable to remove faded flower stalks.

Reproduction

Geranium reproduces mainly or by dividing the mother bush.

Diseases and pests

Geranium can be affected by spotting, powdery mildew, as well as fungal diseases.

Popular varieties

Varieties of large-rhizome geranium

‘Spessagt’- white-pink inflorescences. It grows wildly, changes color in the fall, and is distinguished by its overwintering leaves.

'Ingwersen's Variety'- pale pink inflorescences, bloom luxuriantly.

'Inverse'- variety with purple-pink flowers.

'Czakor'- purple-red inflorescences, grows as a bush.

‘Variegata’- a variety with striped leaves, the stripes are creamy yellow. This geranium reproduces by cuttings of rhizomes with a bud. Most favorable date end of August - beginning of September. This geranium variety grows well in dry, well-drained, lime-rich soils. Prefers sunny habitats. In partial shade, the leaves become larger, the plant grows faster, but does not bloom as profusely.

Blood red geranium varieties

Varieties of Himalayan geranium

‘Gravetye’- blue, slightly purple inflorescences in the middle.

'Jonson's Blue'- a variety of Himalayan geranium, most often grown in Europe. Characterized by long-lasting abundant flowering. Beautiful lilac-blue, shiny, long-blooming inflorescences. Height 40-60 cm, blooms early. If faded inflorescences are cut off, they may bloom again.

'Plenum'- variety with double flowers.

Varieties of forest geranium

'Album'- pale pink, pure white.

'Birch Lilac'- lilac-blue.

'Mayflower'- stands out with bluish, seemingly luminous flowers with a whitish center. A variety suitable for flower beds. Grows in the shade in damp places. Blooms profusely from May to August.

Varieties of meadow geranium

'Flore Pleno'- semi-double form.

'Mrs Kendall Clark' has flowers lilac-pink color with white veins.

'Splish Splash'- variety with variegated bluish flowers.

Varieties of ashen geranium

‘Ballerina’- grows on rocks, lilac-pink, gracefully dissected inflorescences, blooms from June, height 15 cm.

Geranium cinereum ssp. subcaulescens- the subspecies is distinguished by abundant flowering, carmine-red flowers with a black eye and a low stem. The flowers seem to spread over the surface of the leaves. Propagated by dividing the bush in early spring and seeds. Plant in sunny locations with rocky, lime-rich soils. Therefore, it is best to use it in rockeries, where the beauty of this small, graceful plant will be especially evident against the background of crushed stone or pebbles. Geranium is also interesting in a container version, especially in beautiful ones. ceramic vases, which can be put away for the winter.

'Purpureum'- purple-red inflorescences, blooms from June, height 15 cm.

‘Splendens’- carmine-pink inflorescences, blooms from June, height 15 cm.

This one is beautiful and useful flower, which came to our country from Europe back in the 17th century, very quickly gained unprecedented popularity. However, the birthplace of the geranium plant is hot South Africa and spice-scented India. Most botanists agree that this flower was distributed on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, which united India, Australia and Africa.

It was not until the late 16th century that geraniums were brought to Britain from South Africa. It should be noted that it was at this time that Europe became the center of selection and cultivation of rare species of edible and ornamental plants. This was facilitated by the exploration of new exotic lands in Africa and India by English and Spanish sailors. The homeland we know and grow today is Great Britain. In those distant times, it was popular to bring interesting representatives of flora and fauna to expand the catalogs of royal gardens and menageries, as well as to satisfy the needs of wealthy breeders.

The huge Geranium family includes two genera of plants. The first representative is pelargonium, which can be found on the windowsills of many in our country. The second genus is the geranium itself. This flower is suitable both for growing at home and for planting in the front garden in open ground. Many beginners and experienced flower growers pelargonium and geranium are often confused: the homeland of the plant, appearance and their conditions of detention are almost identical, but still not the same. The first genus has about 280 species, and the second - more than 430, but every year new representatives of this home beauty appear thanks to the tireless work of breeders from all over the world. To distinguish one plant from another, you need to carefully examine the flowers: in geranium they will be radially symmetrical, collected in small semi-umbrellas and almost regular in shape. But the inflorescences of pelargonium are bilaterally symmetrical

Popular types

The birthplace of the geranium plant is India, the most popular varieties come from there. It is also found in Africa. Let us dwell in more detail on several common plant species, which are the most beautiful representatives of this family.

Geranium quadrangular is a bush 30-70 cm high. Flowers appear in spring and summer (depending on the planting date) and look like a butterfly. South Africa is the birthplace of the geranium quadrangular plant. The color of the flowers can range from soft cream to light pink. The plant prefers well-lit window sills and temperatures not lower than +10 o C. In spring and summer, geranium is watered abundantly, and in the cool season - moderately. Nutritious soil with good drainage is suitable as soil.

Curly geranium is an excellent variety for growing at home. This shrub reaches a height of 30-60 cm and has a very branched leaf system. The birthplace of the curly geranium plant is South Africa (Cape Province). The flowers are brightly colored from pink to deep purple, and have fairly short stems. The first buds appear in July, and complete wilting and ripening of microseeds occurs at the end of August.

Any selected variety of pelargonium or geranium requires high-quality watering and a bright, well-ventilated place in the house or area. Despite the plant’s resistance to various diseases, the roots should not be allowed to rot.