Pelargoniums, Zonal and Regal
Long a favourite garden plant Pelargoniums come in many species and cultivars are readily available for sale from online from mail order nurseries.
Relatively easy to grow and include, Regal, Zonal, Ivy leaf, Deacons, Angels, Staphs and sweet scented. For growing in the garden or in pots use a humus and compost rich soil or potting mix. Potash will help increase flowering, overfeeding may encourage a little to much leaf growth.
What’s the difference between a Pelargonium and a Geranium?
They are related, but they are different. Generally speaking Pelargoniums are tender perennials, Geraniums are hardy perennials.
Plants sold as “Ivy Geranium”, “Scented Geranium” and “Zonal Geranium” are actually Pelargoniums.
Geraniums go under the name of “Hardy Geranium”, “Geranium” or “Cranes Bill”
Pelargonium Types
Zonal Pelargoniums
Smooth attractive Foliage with a dark patch in their centre. The flowers are small but pretty, the main attraction of Zonals is the band of colour on the foliage
Ivy Leafed Pelargoniums
Foliage reminiscent of Ivy (hence the Name) and a trailing habit. Ivy leafed pelargoniums are bred from P. peltatum. Often used in hanging baskets or for planting where they can trail over a garden wall. Lots of pretty flowers
Scented Pelargoniums
The small dense foliage of Scented Pelargonium types give these the name. When brushed against or crushed they give of a very pleasant perfume or fragrance. P. crispum is the ‘lemon scented geranium’ and P. graveolens is the ‘Rose Scented geranium’. P. citrosum is the citronella plant
Regal Pelargoniums
Its the flowers that are ‘Regal’. Regal varieties are bushy with lots of large flowers. Summer flowering, they do not like frosts.
Pelargoniums are available for sale from the following nurseries
52 Rodd St Canowindra NSW 2804
An online nursery specialising in drought and frost tolerant perennials and fragrant, edible and herbs.
www.perennialle.com.au
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au
357 Monbulk Road SILVAN VIC 3795
Guaranteed "garden worthy" bulbs, plants and perennials. Visit the website to browse our large range of daffodils or request the latest free catalogue.
www.tesselaar.net.au
HELEN YOUNG Pelargoniums phone: 07 4168 9297
Mailing address: 12 Okeden Road Proston QLD 4613
Extensive collection of Pelargoniums and some large flowered Chrysanthemums. Mail order plants to gardeners and collectors, catalogue available.
email: nelyoung@bigpond.com
SOUTHERN CROSS PELARGONIUMS
37 Cobb Street Penshust VIC 3289
email : southernxpelargoniums@bigpond.com
Mail Order. Regals a speciality, also zonals and ivies – hardy plants in Tubes. For descriptive catalogue send 4 x 60c stamps.
GERANIUM COTTAGE Roger and Gabi Broinowski
66 Armadale Road Rivervale WA 6103
PH/FAX: (08) 9470 2345
email: roger@geraniumcottage.com
To all states – Air Express free – mail order. Retail and wholesale Visitors phone first. 50 cuttings for $50. Ask about large shipment, new imports from UK exclusively from WA only.