Many people only know geraniums (which are actually called pelargoniums) as tirelessly blooming balcony flowers in red or white. In fact, the plants are available in a very wide variety, which creates variety on the balcony at home. Pelargoniums bloom red, white, pink, purple, lilac, salmon and even bicolor. There are also variants with particularly striking foliage.
Pelargonium Zonale – Upright Geraniums
The upright geranium species grow to a height of around 40 centimeters and show a very wide variety in terms of flower and leaf colors. You also have the choice between double, semi-double or single flowers. You can find a selection of particularly beautiful varieties in the table below.
Pelargonium Peltatum – hanging geraniums
The popular hanging geraniums with their ivy-like leaf shoots can grow up to 150 centimeters long and also delight with a wide variety of colors. Here too, the flowers can be double, semi-double or single. These species look particularly good in balcony boxes or hanging baskets.
Pelargonium Oderata – scented geraniums
The scented geraniums, which grow up to 40 centimeters high, have smaller but bicolored flowers compared to the upright Pelargonium Zonale. What is particularly striking, however, are the intensely fragrant leaves, whose aroma is reminiscent of lemons, roses, mint, apples or pine, depending on the variety. Many of these varieties can be used in the kitchen.
Pelargonium Grandiflorum – noble geraniums
The noble or English geraniums are characterized by particularly large and particularly large numbers of flowers, which are usually two-colored - i.e. H. with a darker eye – are. They are mostly cultivated as houseplants, but can also be kept outside - provided they are protected from rain.
Pelargonium Crispum – Butterfly Geraniums
The butterfly geraniums are the little sisters of the noble geraniums. These are also characterized by an above-average abundance of flowers and have a darker eye. However, they only remain around 20 to 30 centimeters small and can only rarely be overwintered.
Pelgardini – decorative leaf geraniums
So-called decorative leaf geraniums have rather inconspicuous flowers, but very distinctive leaves. These varieties also only grow to a height of between 20 and 30 centimeters.
Recommended geranium varieties
In the table below you will find an overview of some particularly beautiful geraniums.
| geranium variety | Growth habit | Flower color |
|---|---|---|
| Balcony Red | hanging | red |
| Dark Red | upright | dark red |
| Tonke | upright | dark violet-red |
| Elara | upright | light red |
| Fire Merlot | half hanging | dark red |
| Burgundy | upright | dark red |
| Rosetta | upright | salmon |
| Lady Ramona | upright | two-tone pink |
| Balcony pink | hanging | two-tone pink |
| Katinka | upright | two-tone light purple |
| Quirin | half hanging | dark violet |
| Shocking Pink | hanging | strong pink |
| Mermaid | semi-hanging | two-tone red-white |
| Cassandra | upright | white |
| Ville de Dresden | hanging | white |
Tip
If you are looking for robust balcony geraniums, then choose upright-growing or hanging varieties with single flowers - these are usually more weather and rain-resistant than variants with double or semi-double flowers.
