Friends, pelargonium and geranium are different plants, although they belong to the same family. These are two daughters from the same Geraniev family - Pelargonium and Geranium. However, they are not similar in appearance, which happens with sisters. Let's figure out which sister lives in our house - pelargonium or geranium - what's the difference. Let's find out what the difference is in care and use, look at the photo.
You can distinguish them by flowers, leaves, everything, but their seed pods are very similar. How similar the beaks of a stork and a crane are. After all, the flowers got their names from the Greek words pelargos - stork and geranos - crane.
Plants that bloom with large bright red, white and pink umbrellas on windowsills are not geraniums at all, as many are accustomed to believe. The correct name for indoor flowers is pelargonium. Real geranium is an unpretentious, frost-resistant, cute garden plant that overwinters well in natural conditions.
Scientists confused two species of the same family in ancient times, back in the 18th century, and since then the confusion in the names has stuck, without at all spoiling the pleasure of flower gardens. And the difference or differences are important for understanding how to care for your pets. 
These lines were written by Boris Pasternak, and it never occurs to anyone to insist on the name pelargonium in these delightfully cozy lines, much less look for differences or figure out what the difference is between pelargonium and geranium.
Of course, time puts everything in its place, new varieties of geraniums and pelargonium are developed, and breeders name their creations correctly, often causing confusion among ordinary lovers: “Geranium or pelargonium? Why did the familiar geranium suddenly become pelargonium?
Both genera belong to the Geranium family and have many species. However, it will not be possible to cross them with each other, since they are not genetically compatible. They differ in a number of characteristics characteristic of each genus.
Pelargonium or geranium - what's the difference?
Photo of geranium
Geranium Photo of pelargonium
Pelargonium Judging by the photo, the differences between the sisters are so great that the question of what is the difference between representatives of the same family turns into the area of differences in care and use.
How to distinguish pelargonium from geranium
You can tell them apart by their appearance; the sisters are too different.
Pelargonium
This is a southern flower, which in Russian climatic conditions can only exist as an indoor flower. In the summer it feels good on balconies and open verandas, but in the winter it must be brought indoors. Pelargonium (LINK) loves good lighting. If there is not enough of it, it stops blooming. However, direct sunlight of pelargonium, like geraniums, is contraindicated. Moderate watering is necessary; in waterlogged soil, the roots quickly begin to rot.
Pelargonium flowers have an irregular shape: the 2 upper petals are slightly larger than the 3 lower ones. They form large umbrellas of inflorescences. The different species come in many shades from white and pink to deep red. There are two-color varieties. But there are no blue, light blue or purple pelargoniums.
Geranium
The genus has a large number of species. Some, most often with blue and purple inflorescences, are wild and can be found in the forest or meadow. Garden varieties are distinguished by a variety of colors; there are white, pink, crimson and even almost black shades.
Geranium flowers consist of 5 or 8 radially symmetrical petals. They are often solitary or form a semi-umbrella inflorescence. They are very popular among gardeners because they are unpretentious, overwinter without shelter, and many bushes do not need to trim their leaves in the fall. In addition, they are very decorative even outside the flowering period.
What is the difference in care between geranium and pelargonium
Garden geraniums are perennial plants.
- In winter, they do not need to be dug up or covered; they will overwinter wonderfully. At the end of the season or early spring, you will need to remove the wilted dried geranium greens; this is done once a year.
- Planted in soil with good water permeability. Planted in small groups. Geranium is a ground cover plant; it spreads well, and sometimes even too well, over an area and can cover large areas of land in a short time.
- They do not need fertilizing.
- Willingly settles in shade, partial shade and feels good in dry shade.
- Has a strong branched root system
Pelargonium is a completely different person to care for.
This heat-loving child of the south grows outdoors as an annual.
- For the winter, it is either dug up and transferred to boxes for cool winter storage or thrown away. Pelargoniums are stored at a temperature of 5-7 degrees with limited light and sometimes moistening the soil.
- Flowering requires light. Zonal pelargonium grows and blooms well on balconies with a semi-shady location, when there is shade for less than half the day and sun the rest of the time.
- Needs regular feeding and moderate watering.
- It has a small fibrous root.
Application difference
The difference in types also leads to different uses.
Geraniums
It is better to plant different types of garden geraniums in different parts of the garden in small groups. Together they create untidiness due to dissected leaves and small flowers. Applicable:
- As a ground cover, unpretentious perennial plant
- As background filling of flower garden voids
- Filling difficult dry areas of the garden in the shade
- For landscaping slopes, thanks to the tenacious, strong root system
Pelargoniums
Pelargoniums are used
- Like annuals in the garden
- As indoor plants (with lighting in winter)
- For landscaping open balconies and terraces
Types of geraniums
The magnificent perennial garden geranium actually has a magnificent lilac color and prefers sun and partial shade.
Dark brown geranium (Geranium Phaeum) - partial shade, shade
Oxford geranium - partial shade, shade. Captures space quickly.
Blood red geranium - partial shade.
Types of pelargonium
- Pelargonium angel
- Pelargonium ivy or ampelous
Pelargonium zonalis gets its name because of the colored zones on the leaves. Please note that these colored rings resemble balls. This is exactly what our grandmothers called their pelargoniums or “geraniums”. Colored stripes - zones can be pronounced or less pronounced, I noticed that this depends on the type of flower, light and temperature.
Royal or domestic pelargonium is distinguished by large luxurious flowers with a small stem height.
Angel pelargoniums are similar to miniature royal pelargoniums with the same beautiful flowers, but in miniature, and the plant itself looks more compact.
Ivy-leaved pelargoniums, also known as ampelous ones, actually resemble ivy in the shape of their leaves. The flowers are single or double on long stalks, which is why they give the impression of a huge hat on a small plant. They withstand wind and rain surprisingly well.
Fragrant pelargonium is valued not so much for its flowers as for its fragrant foliage, from which essential oil is obtained.
Pelargonium or geranium, I know the difference, but this does not stop me from calling my flowers the way my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother called them. There is so much tenderness in this phrase - my geraniums, isn’t it?
For pelargonium to bloom magnificently, read here on the website
Many people call beautiful indoor pelargonium flowers geranium, believing that they are the same thing, although in fact there are quite a lot of significant differences between the plants. The difference between geranium and pelargonium can be understood by the appearance of the plant; moreover, they require completely different care and maintenance conditions.
Similar features
Disputes about the belonging of geranium and pelargonium to different genera began in the 18th century between the Dutch botanist Johannes Burman and the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus. The first considered the plants to be completely different, despite their belonging to the same family, while the second proposed combining them into one species because of the similar fruit capsule. Even the names have a common origin:
- “pelargos” (from Greek) – stork;
- "geranium" - crane.
They received bird names due to the similarity of the fertilized pistil with a bird's beak.
Common features of geranium and pelargonium are:
- relation to the single geranium family;
- erect stems;
- trunk hairiness;
- identical arrangement of leaves (alternately or opposite each other);
- presence of a special unusual odor;
- unpretentiousness in care and maintenance;
- ease of reproduction.
Worth knowing! Geranium is the largest genus in the Geranium family, and pelargonium is the most famous and popular.
In total, the geranium family has 5 genera and as many as 800 plant species.
Differences
Despite some similarities, there are quite a few differences between the plants:
- resistance to cold;
- flower shape;
- features of care;
- use in horticulture;
- appearance.
Worth knowing! Proof that pelargonium and geranium are still completely different plants is offered by nature itself - it is absolutely impossible to cross them with each other.
Appearance
If you look closely at the flowers, the differences will be noticeable to the naked eye:
- Geranium flowers consist of 5 or 8 petals and have a symmetrical shape, located mostly singly, less often in inflorescences. In pelargonium, symmetry is observed along one axis - the upper petals are larger and the lower petals are smaller.
- Geranium looks like a wildflower and looks simple, while pelargonium has a luxurious, royal appearance and pleases the eye with lush flowering.
- Geranium flowers are found in various shades, except scarlet. Pelargonium is never blue.
- Geranium can often be found growing in open ground, while pelargonium is planted mainly in pots.
Geranium branches consist of 5 or 8 petals, single or sometimes collected in inflorescences.
Care
Caring for geranium and pelargonium is also required differently.
Features of caring for geraniums include:
- There is no need to dig up or insulate the flower for the winter, as it is resistant to cold. You only need to remove the wilted greenery of the plant once a year.
- The soil must be highly permeable; plants can be planted in small groups. Geranium is a ground cover plant and quickly spreads across the land allocated for it, covering large areas.
- Additional feeding of flowers is not required;
- Planting in shady areas, partial shade, and even arid shade is possible;
- The root system is strong and branched, which allows the plant to receive the necessary nutrients and moisture from the depths of the soil;
- Garden varieties of geranium are perennial and regrow after wintering.
- By removing drying inflorescences, flowering can be prolonged.
- Geraniums should be replanted periodically to extend their life.
- It propagates vegetatively and by seeds, but takes root best when its seedlings are planted.
Caring for pelargonium will be completely different from that of geranium, since it is mainly grown as an indoor flower; in garden conditions, the plant grows for one season (annual):
- When grown in the garden, the plant must be dug up and transferred to boxes for winter storage, or thrown away. The flower must be stored in limited lighting and an ambient temperature of 5-7 degrees.
- A sufficient amount of daytime sunlight is necessary for flowering. This should be taken into account when placing the pot, and choose a place for it where the shade lasts less than half a day.
- The plant should be fed regularly (peat, clay, sand, special fertilizers).
- Watering should be moderate.
- Regular feeding is required.
- The air temperature in the room with the flower should not fall below 12.
- The root system is small, fibrous.
- With a lack of lighting, pelargonium flowering stops. Due to excessive watering, root rot is possible, which is externally manifested by changes in the leaves of the plant.
- The soil in the pot should be loosened monthly to provide oxygen to the roots.
- The flower pot should be spacious with a wide drainage layer, the soil should be loose, and neighboring flowerpots should be placed at a distance from the pelargonium. So as not to interfere with its wild flowering.
- In winter, you can stop watering, as the plant tolerates a lack of moisture well.
Worth knowing! Pelargonium is a delicate houseplant, and any violation of the rules for caring for it immediately affects its flowering (reduction in the size and number of flowers, up to complete cessation).
Application
Considering that geranium and pelargonium have different requirements for conditions of maintenance and care, their use is also significantly different:
Geranium is planted mainly in gardens, in different areas and in small groups, since when planted over a large area, it looks untidy due to dissected leaves and small flowers.
Geraniums are planted:
- as a ground cover perennial plant that is unpretentious in care;
- for background filling of voids in a flower bed;
- for covering difficult and shady areas of the garden;
- for landscaping slopes (thanks to strong and tenacious roots).
Pelargonium is much less common in the garden due to its tenderness and instability to frost; it is planted:
- in gardens as an annual plant;
- in pots as an indoor flower;
- for landscaping open balconies and terraces.
Varieties
Both flowers have many varieties, among which you can choose a plant to suit your taste.
Geranium
The most popular types of garden geraniums are:
- magnificent;
- dark brown;
- Oxford (quickly covers large spaces);
- blood red;
- meadow;
- spotted;
- Endras;
- Himalayan (distinguished by large flowers).
Pelargonium
Common varieties of pelargonium include:
How not to confuse
It is quite difficult to confuse geranium with pelargonium, since they have many differences, ranging from the color and shape of the flower to their different arrangement. To be sure to distinguish flowers from each other, you can use the table:
| Geranium | Pelargonium | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | South Africa and America | Nordic countries |
| Temperature | Resistant to cold and frost | Heat-loving |
| Location | Garden plant (perennial), found in wild conditions (garden, meadow) | An indoor flower, can be grown on a balcony or terrace in the summer, in the garden as an annual |
| Lighting | Can grow in shade and partial shade | Requires a lot of natural light |
| Flowers | Regular shape, 5 or 8 petals, single or collected in semi-umbrella inflorescences | Irregular in shape (asymmetrical), the upper petals are larger than the lower ones, the inflorescences are voluminous, umbrella-shaped |
| Stamens | 10 | up to 7 |
| Color | There is no scarlet, in the wild it is often blue and purple, garden varieties are white, pink, crimson, dark brown (almost black) | There is no such thing as blue and purple, it comes in many shades from white and pink to dark red |
| Care | Does not require fertilizing or pruning, can grow in dry soil | Regular fertilization, moderate watering and pruning are required. |
The plants are quite different, but both are beautiful and deserve the attention of gardeners and housewives, especially considering their low maintenance requirements.
Have you ever wondered which plant in your home pleases you with beautiful blooms - geranium or pelargonium? What is the difference between these plants, and does it exist? Many gardeners will probably be surprised that the beautiful flower on their windowsill is not a geranium.
From the history of plants
In the middle of the 17th century, botanist Johannes Burman (Holland) argued that pelargonium and geranium, the difference between which is obvious, are not related plants. He wanted to separate them into different genera. Nevertheless, Carl Linnaeus, a world-famous naturalist, had by that time compiled his own classification, where he united these plants into a single group. At that time, bright bushes of flowering pelargonium were actively used in landscaping gardens. Flower growers immediately assigned it the name - geranium.
What are the similarities between pelargonium and geranium?
Both plants are part of the same family - geraniums. This fact is considered to be the main similarity. The family includes 5 genera and 800 plant species. The most numerous is geranium, the most famous and popular is pelargonium.
In fact, pelargonium and geranium are very similar in appearance. The difference at first glance is obvious only to a specialist. K. Linnaeus classified them into one family because of the similarity of the fruit capsule. After fertilization, the pistil stretches out and begins to resemble a crane's beak. Translated from Greek, pelargos means “stork”, and geranium means “crane”. Pelargonium and geranium are very similar in their erect stems and alternately growing leaves. In both plants they are covered with small hairs. Most geraniums have a special aroma. These are quite tenacious plants, unpretentious in care, loving the sun and easy to reproduce. As you can see, there are really many similarities between these beautiful bushes. Then the question arises: "What is the difference between geranium and pelargonium?" Even experienced flower growers are interested in it.
Pelargonium and geranium: the difference
These plants cannot be crossed with each other - they simply will not produce seeds. This is due to different genetic characteristics. Pelargonium is a native of the southern regions, and geranium is native to the Northern Hemisphere. That is why geranium is able to bloom even at a temperature of +12 degrees, and the southern beauty pelargonium needs only greenhouse or room conditions for wintering.
Pelargonium is most often grown in apartments, it decorates summer verandas and flower beds, and feels quite comfortable on balconies, but in winter these flowers are put away in a warm room. Geranium grows and develops well in gardens, and does not need shelter for the winter.
In our country, meadow and forest geraniums are found everywhere, with the exception of the Far Eastern and northern regions, where climatic conditions are too harsh for them.
How to distinguish geranium from pelargonium?
Geranium has flowers consisting of 5 or 8 petals. They are usually solitary, only occasionally collected in inflorescences. differs in the corolla of the flower. It has an irregular shape - the two upper petals are slightly larger, the three lower petals are smaller. Pelargonium flowers form large inflorescences. Geranium can be painted in a variety of colors (except scarlet). Pelargonium never has blue shades.
Geranium is a garden plant. Summer residents love him very much. Particularly popular are varieties such as “magnificent”, “Georgian”, “Oxford”. Pelargonium blooms at home throughout the year. In summer it can be taken out to the balcony or into the garden, but with the onset of cold weather you should bring the plant into the house.
Pelargonium and geranium: difference, care
All plants from the geranium family do not require special agricultural technology. Most species prefer fertile, loose soil; pelargonium can grow in acidic or neutral soil. And in this respect, pelargonium and geranium are similar. The only difference is that rocky species develop well on light sandy soil, while meadow species feel comfortable on clayey, heavy soil.
Most plants from the geranium family love good light, but direct sunlight is contraindicated for them. Both pelargonium and geranium feel much better in partial shade. The difference (care for them is almost the same) between them is not too big, except for the fact that one plant is a garden plant, and the second is a home plant. This explains certain features of caring for these two beauties.
Geranium propagates by seeds and vegetatively. After purchasing a dryish but living root from a gardening supermarket, it should be moistened and kept for a couple of days at a temperature of +2 degrees before planting in open ground. With the arrival of warm spring days, when the soil warms up, the plant can be planted.
If you want to divide a bush that has already taken root on your site, then do it in the spring, when the flower wakes up after winter sleep. There is no need to cover geraniums for the winter; most varieties do not even need to cut off the foliage.
Pelargonium: care features
How to grow pelargonium at home? This question interests novice flower growers. This flower is famous for its delicate, pleasant aroma. It is produced by the essential oil contained in the leaves and stem of the plant. If you decide to grow pelargonium, then you need to know that the following conditions are necessary for its growth and development:
- proper regular watering;
- good lighting;
- air temperature not lower than +12 degrees;
- pruning
Pelargonium loves warm and bright window sills. It is quite comfortable for her, but in winter the flower tolerates coolness better (permissible mode is +8 ... +10 o C). When there is insufficient lighting, pelargonium stops blooming or produces small, sparse and not so bright flowers.
At home, the flower should be protected from direct sunlight. Pelargonium needs space, so make sure that other green pets do not disturb it.
The flower should be watered only when the top layer of soil dries out. Excess moisture leads to rotting of the roots, which the plant will immediately inform you about, showing weakened, flaccid leaves. In winter, watering is reduced. Pelargonium tolerates lack of moisture quite easily.
The soil should be nutritious, containing garden soil, sand and peat. A large layer of drainage should be placed at the bottom of the pot; occasionally the soil should be loosened - this will ensure access of oxygen to the roots of the plant. It is important to choose the right pot size. It depends on the volume of the root system. Small containers are more suitable for geraniums.
We hope that after reading our article, you will understand which flower grows on your windowsill - pelargonium or home geranium. Caring for these plants is easy, and their external attractiveness is finding more and more admirers among flower growers.
Some plants are not called correctly by people. For example, when hearing the word “geranium”, many people have associations with the famous indoor flower, growing in a pot on the window and spreading a peculiar smell. However, the true name of this plant is more intricate - pelargonium. Where, then, does geranium grow? Why is the home flower called incorrectly? And what is the difference between geranium and pelargonium? Let's try to figure this out.
Why is there confusion in names?
The fact is that once upon a time both plants were called geranium. And indeed, there are certain similarities between them. In this regard, special emphasis is placed on the shape of the seed pod - in both cases it resembles an elongated crane's beak.
But at some point, botanists, for very good reasons, separated some of the geranium species into a separate genus, and all the flowers of this group began to be called pelargoniums. The big difference between the two plants is evidenced by the fact that they cannot be crossed. When attempting such an experiment, no seeds are formed. Both representatives of the flora have the same family – geraniums. This is what geranium looks like:
Geranium
And this is a blooming pelargonium:
Pelargonium Comparison
In nature, plants exist in different conditions. Geraniums are native to the soils and climate of the Northern Hemisphere. This is what can be found in meadows among other grass. The difference between geranium and pelargonium is that it feels great even at low temperatures. As a beautiful flower, geranium is grown in gardens without needing shelter for the winter.
Pelargonium is a flower sensitive to cold. After all, its natural conditions are African savannas. Therefore, pelargonium, which has sufficient decorative value, is used to decorate the interior. It can also be placed on summer verandas. But wintering in the open ground is completely contraindicated for it.
There are also external differences between plants. They concern mainly the flowers themselves. In geraniums they are in most cases solitary. Five, rarely eight, petals of such a flower are collected in the correct order and do not differ from each other in shape, size and color. Geranium has ten developed fertile stamens.
As for pelargonium, its flowers are most often combined into spectacular large inflorescences. In many species of this plant, there is an asymmetry in the arrangement of the petals, when the top two of them are separated from the rest. In this case, the flower turns out incorrect.
Pelargonium has no more than seven fertile stamens, the rest are underdeveloped.
Let's look at the difference between geranium and pelargonium when we compare the color of their flowers. In this regard, it is worth noting that geraniums correspond mainly to blue and purple colors, as well as shades close to them. In addition, garden varieties with pink, crimson and pure white flowers have been bred. But scarlet geranium does not exist.
Meanwhile, it is impossible to find blue pelargonium, since this color is absolutely not characteristic of it. Traditional color options in this case will be soft pink, red, white. Two-color varieties and those where the petals are marked with spots and contrasting strokes are also interesting.
Almost all plants have a botanical and “folk” name. In everyday life, the second is more often used (or maybe it is the first?) Remember: fireweed is called fireweed; aconite - wrestler or skullcap; Solidago is goldenrod, and cornflower is just meadow daisy. There are many examples. Knowing the popular name, we quickly remember what the plant looks like. For example, what is geranium? My memory immediately comes to mind of my grandmother’s flower on the windowsill. But no! This is pelargonium. Perhaps this is the scientific name of the same plant? We didn't guess right again. What people call geranium is a completely different plant. Let's figure it out.
So, geranium and pelargonium are different plants. The “traditional geranium,” with its bright red caps that grandmothers cherish on their windowsills, is called Pelargonium. It is one of five genera that is part of the geranium family (Geraniaceae).
But blue flowers, which can be found everywhere - in meadows, on forest edges, and in dry steppes, are called geranium. These are plants from the genus Geranium (Geranium) of the same family Geranium. Translated from Greek “geranion” is a diminutive of geranos - crane. This name is given for the shape of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane. Popularly, geranium is often called crane grass, crane grass, or eagle's foot.
What is the difference?
The main difference between geraniums and pelargoniums is that the latter are not winter-hardy. Most varieties of pelargonium come from the savannahs of South Africa, which is why they are grown as houseplants.
Geranium also differs from pelargonium in the structure of its flowers - geranium has regular, radially symmetrical flowers, collected in a semi-umbrella. Pelargonium has flowers of irregular shape, slightly with bilateral symmetry, collected in umbrellas. Usually the upper petals are larger than the lower ones.
Wild species of geraniums are usually blue, lilac and purple tones, less often white. Garden forms with different flower colors have been developed; there are pink, crimson and “black”. Geraniums grow well in the garden. After flowering they have a neat bush and remain decorative for a long time. They overwinter stably; only some imported varieties can freeze slightly.
Pelargonium flowers come in all sorts of colors: from pure white and soft pink to burgundy and almost black. There are two-color varieties, with spots and streaks. Different types of pelargonium vary greatly in the shape and color of the leaves, as well as in the shape of the plants themselves.
There are 6 groups of pelargoniums:
Zonal (garden)
Ivy-leaved (ampeloid)
English grandiflora (royal or domestic)
Variegated
Fragrant
Succulents
What does pelargonium like?
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