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, outwardly they do not look alike, which happens with sisters. Let's figure out which of the sisters lives in our house pelargonium or geranium, what is the difference. We will find out what is the difference in care and use, consider the photo.
You can distinguish them by flowers, leaves, everything, but their seed pods are very similar. How similar are the beaks of a stork and a crane. After all, the flowers got their names from the Greek words pelargos - stork and geranos - crane.
Plants blooming in large bright red, white and pink umbrellas on the windowsills are not geraniums at all, as many used to think. The correct name for indoor flowers is pelargonium. The real geranium is an unpretentious frost-resistant cute garden plant that winters 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 been fixed, without spoiling the pleasure of flower beds at all. And the difference or differences are important for understanding how to care for pets. 
These lines were written by Boris Pasternak, and it never occurs to anyone to insist on the name of pelargonium in these delightfully cozy lines, and even more so to look for differences or understand pelargonium or geranium what is the difference.
Of course, time puts everything in its place, new varieties of geraniums and pelargoniums are being developed, and breeders name their creations correctly, often causing confusion among ordinary lovers: “Geranium or pelargonium? Why did a familiar geranium suddenly become a pelargonium?
Both genera belong to the Geranium family and have many species. However, it will not work to cross them with each other, since they are genetically incompatible. They differ in a number of characteristics characteristic of each genus.
Pelargonium or geranium what is 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 goes into the area of differences in care and use.
How to distinguish pelargonium from geranium
It will be possible to distinguish by appearance, it is painfully different sisters.
Pelargonium
This is a southern flower, which in Russian climatic conditions can only exist as an indoor flower. In summer, it feels good on balconies and open verandas, but for the winter it must be brought indoors. Pelargonium (LINK) loves good lighting. If it is not enough, it stops blooming. However, direct sunlight of pelargonium, like geraniums, is contraindicated. Watering is necessary moderate, in waterlogged soil, the roots quickly begin to rot.
Pelargonium flowers have an irregular shape: the 2 upper petals are somewhat larger than the 3 lower ones. They form large umbrellas of inflorescences. Different species have many shades from white and pink to dark red. There are bicolor varieties. But there is no blue, blue or purple pelargonium.
Geranium
The genus contains a large number of species. Some, most often with blue and purple inflorescences, are wild-growing, they can be found in the forest or in the meadow. Garden varieties are distinguished by a variety of colors, there are white, pink, raspberry 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 with gardeners, as they are unpretentious, winter without shelter, many bushes do not need to cut their leaves in autumn. In addition, they are very decorative even outside the flowering period.
What is the difference in care between geranium and pelargonium
Garden geraniums are perennials.
- In winter, they do not need to be dug up or covered, they will overwinter remarkably. At the end of the season or early spring, it will be necessary to remove the withered 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, excellent, and sometimes too excellent, spreads over the site, in a short time it is able to cover large tracts of land.
- They don't need supplements.
- Willingly settles in the shade, partial shade and feels good in dry shade.
- Has a strong branched root system
Pelargonium is a person of a completely different care.
This is a heat-loving child of the south; it grows outdoors as an annual.
- For the winter, they either dig it up and transfer it to boxes for winter storage in a cool place or throw it away. Keep pelargoniums at a temperature of 5-7 degrees with limited light and sometimes moistening the soil.
- Flowering needs light. Zonal pelargonium grows well and blooms on balconies with a semi-shady location, when there is shade for less than half the day, and the rest of the time the sun.
- Needs regular feeding and moderate watering.
- It has a small fibrous root.
Application difference
The difference in species leads to different uses.
geranium
Different types of garden geraniums are best planted in different parts of the garden in small groups. Together they create untidiness due to dissected leaves and medium-sized flowers. Apply:
- As a ground cover unpretentious perennial plant
- As a background filling of voids in a flower garden
- Filling difficult dry garden areas in the shade
- For landscaping slopes, thanks to a tenacious strong root system
Pelargonium
Pelargoniums are applied
- Like annuals in the garden
- As indoor plants (backlit in winter)
- For landscaping open balconies, terraces
Types of geranium
Geranium garden perennial magnificent actually has a magnificent lilac color, prefers the sun and partial shade.
Dark brown geranium (Geranium Phaeum) - partial shade, shade
Geranium Oxford - penumbra, shade. Takes space quickly.
Geranium blood red - partial shade.
Types of pelargonium
- Pelargonium angel
- Pelargonium ivy or ampelous
Pelargonium zonal got its name because of the colored zones on the leaves. Please note that these colored rings resemble small balls. This is exactly what our grandmothers called their pelargoniums or "geraniums". Colored stripes - zones are pronounced or less pronounced, I noticed that this depends on the flower variety, light and temperature.
Pelargonium royal or home is distinguished by large luxurious flowers with a small height of the stems.
Angel pelargoniums are similar to miniature royal pelargoniums with the same beautiful flowers, but in miniature, and the plant itself looks more compact.
Pelargoniums are ivy-leaved, they are also ampelous, in fact, the shape of the leaves resembles ivy. The flowers are simple or double on long peduncles, which gives the impression of a huge hat with a small plant. Surprisingly well withstand winds and rains.
Pelargonium fragrant is valued not so much for its flowers, but for its fragrant foliage, from which essential oil is obtained.
Pelargonium or geranium, what is the difference, I know, but this does not prevent me from naming my flowers, as my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother called them. So much tenderness in this phrase - my geraniums, isn't it?
For pelargonium to bloom luxuriantly, read here on the site
Many people call beautiful indoor pelargonium flowers geraniums, believing that they are one and the same, although in fact there are quite a few significant differences between plants. What is the difference between geranium and pelargonium can be understood by the appearance of the plant, in addition, they need completely different care and conditions of detention.
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 plants to be completely different, despite their belonging to the same family, while the second suggested combining them into one species because of a similar fruit box. Even the names have a common origin:
- "pelargos" (from Greek) - stork;
- "geranium" - crane.
They received bird names due to the resemblance of a fertilized pistil to a bird's beak.
Common features of geranium and pelargonium are:
- relation to a single family of geraniums;
- erect stems;
- stem hairiness;
- the same arrangement of leaves (alternately or opposite each other);
- the presence of a special unusual smell;
- unpretentiousness in care and maintenance;
- ease of reproduction.
Worth knowing! Geranium is the largest genus in the Geranium family, while Pelargonium is the most famous and popular.
In total, the geranium family has 5 genera and as many as 800 plant varieties.
Differences
Despite some similarities, there are not so few differences between plants:
- resistance to cold;
- flower shape;
- features of care;
- application in horticulture;
- appearance.
Worth knowing! The 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 ones are smaller.
- Geranium looks like a wild flower, and looks simple, while pelargonium has a luxurious, royal look and pleases the eye with exuberant flowering.
- Geranium flowers are found in various shades, except for scarlet. Pelargonium is never blue.
- Geraniums can often be found growing outdoors, while geraniums are planted mainly in pots.
branches of geraniums consist of 5 or 8 petals, single or sometimes collected in inflorescences.
Care
Care for geraniums and pelargonium is also required in different ways.
Geranium care features include:
- No need to dig up or warm the flower for the winter, as it is resistant to cold. It is only required to remove the withered greens of the plant once a year.
- The soil should be highly permeable, planting in small groups is allowed. Geranium is a ground cover plant and quickly spreads over the land allotted for it, covering large areas.
- Additional feeding of flowers is not required;
- It is possible to land in shady areas, partial shade, and even arid shade;
- 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 geraniums are perennial and re-grow after wintering.
- By removing drying inflorescences, flowering can be extended.
- Geraniums should be repotted periodically to prolong their lifespan.
- It propagates vegetatively and by seeds, but it takes root best when planting its seedlings.
Pelargonium care will be completely different than that of geraniums, since it is mainly grown as an indoor flower, in garden conditions the plant grows one season (annual):
- When grown in the garden, the plant needs to be dug up and transferred to boxes for winter storage, or thrown away. It is required to store the flower in limited light and an ambient temperature of 5-7 degrees.
- Adequate amount of daytime sunlight is needed for flowering. This should be taken into account when placing the pot, and choose for it the place where the shadow remains for less than half a day.
- The plant should be fed regularly (peat, clay, sand, special fertilizers).
- Watering should be moderate.
- Requires regular feeding.
- 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, the flowering of pelargonium stops. Due to excessive watering, root rot is possible, externally manifested by changes in the leaves of the plant.
- The soil in the pot should be loosened monthly to supply oxygen to the roots.
- The flower pot should be spacious with a wide drainage layer, the ground is loose, and adjacent flowerpots should be located at a distance from the pelargonium. So as not to interfere with its violent flowering.
- In winter, you can stop watering, as the plant perfectly tolerates a lack of moisture.
Worth knowing! Pelargonium is a delicate house plant, and any violation of the rules for caring for it immediately affects its flowering (reducing the size and number of flowers, up to a complete cessation).
Application
Considering that geranium and pelargonium have different requirements for conditions of maintenance and care, their application also differs significantly:
Geranium is planted mainly in gardens, and in different areas and in small groups, since when planting a large area with a plant, it looks untidy due to dissected leaves and small flowers.
Planted geraniums:
- as a ground cover perennial plant unpretentious in care;
- for background filling of voids in a flower bed;
- to cover complex and shady areas of the garden;
- for landscaping slopes (thanks to strong and tenacious roots).
Pelargonium in the garden is much less common 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 your liking.
Geranium
The most popular types of garden geraniums are:
- magnificent;
- dark brown;
- Oxford (quickly covers large spaces);
- blood red;
- meadow;
- spotted;
- Endras;
- Himalayan (differs in large flowers).
Pelargonium
Common varieties of pelargonium include:
How not to confuse
It is rather difficult to confuse geranium with pelargonium, as 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 regime | Resistant to cold and frost | thermophilic |
| Location | Garden plant (perennial), found in the wild (garden, meadow) | 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 | The correct form, 5 or 8 petals, single or collected in semi-umbrella inflorescences | Irregular shape (asymmetric), upper petals are larger than the lower ones, 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, raspberry dark brown (almost black) | There is no blue and purple, it is presented in a variety of shades from white and pink to dark red |
| Care | Does not require top dressing and pruning, can grow in dry soil | Requires regular fertilization, moderate watering and pruning |
The plants are quite different, but both are beautiful and deserve the attention of gardeners and housewives, especially given their undemanding care.
Have you ever wondered which plant in your house pleases you with beautiful flowering - geranium or pelargonium? What is the difference between these plants, and does it exist? Probably, many flower growers will be surprised that a beautiful flower on their windowsill is not a geranium.
From the history of plants
In the middle of the 17th century, the 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, by that time had compiled his own classification, where he combined these plants into a single group. Then the bright bushes of flowering pelargonium were actively used in landscaping gardens. Flower growers immediately assigned the name to it - 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 assigned them to one family because of the similarity of the fruit box. After fertilization, the pistil extends and begins to resemble a crane's beak. In Greek, pelargos means "stork" and geranium means "crane". Pelargonium and geranium are very similar with erect stems and alternately growing leaves. They are covered with small hairs in both plants. Most geraniums have a special aroma. These are quite tenacious plants, unpretentious in care, loving the sun and easily propagating. 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?" It interests even experienced flower growers.
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 comes from 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, feels quite comfortable on balconies, but in winter these flowers are removed to a warm room. Geranium, on the other hand, grows and develops well in gardens, while it 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 gathering in inflorescences. distinguished by the corolla of the flower. It has an irregular shape - the two upper petals are slightly larger, the lower three are smaller. Pelargonium flowers form large inflorescences. Geranium can be painted in a variety of colors (except scarlet). Pelargonium never has blue hues.
Geranium is a garden plant. Gardeners love him very much. Especially popular are such varieties as "magnificent", "Georgian", "Oxford". Pelargonium blooms at home throughout the year. In summer, it can be taken out to the balcony or garden, but with the onset of cold weather, the plant should be brought 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 soils, pelargonium can grow on 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 clay, heavy soil.
Most plants from the geranium family love good lighting, but direct sunlight is contraindicated for them. 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 garden, and the second is home. This explains certain features of caring for these two beauties.
Geranium is propagated by seeds and vegetatively. After buying a dry but lively root in a garden supermarket, it should be moistened and kept at a temperature of +2 degrees for a couple of days before planting in open ground. With the advent 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 in your area, then do it in the spring, when the flower wakes up after a winter sleep. It is not necessary to cover geraniums for the winter; most varieties do not even need to cut the foliage.
Pelargonium: care features
How to grow pelargonium at home? This question is of interest to beginner flower growers. This flower is famous for its delicate pleasant aroma. It is emitted 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 is very fond of warm and bright window sills. It is quite comfortable for her, but in winter the flower tolerates coolness better (the permissible mode is +8 ... +10 ° C). When there is not enough light, pelargonium stops blooming or gives small, rare 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 interfere with it.
Water the flower should be only when the topsoil dries up. An excess of moisture leads to rotting of the roots, which the plant will immediately tell you about, showing weakened sluggish leaves. Reduce watering in winter. Pelargonium quite easily tolerates a lack of moisture.
The soil should be nutritious, containing garden soil, sand and peat. A large layer of drainage should be laid at the bottom of the pot, occasionally the soil needs to be loosened - this will ensure oxygen access to the roots of the plant. It is important to choose the right pot size. It depends on the size of the root system. For geraniums, small containers are more suitable.
We hope that after reading our article, you will figure out which flower grows on your windowsill - pelargonium or homemade geranium. Caring for these plants is simple, and their visual appeal is finding more and more admirers among flower growers.
Some plants in the people are called not quite correctly. For example, at the word "geranium" many have associations with a well-known 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 does the geranium grow in this case? Why is a home flower called incorrectly? And what is the difference between geranium and pelargonium? Let's try to figure this out.
Why is there name confusion?
The fact is that once upon a time both plants were called geraniums. 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, identified some of the geranium species as a separate genus, and all the flowers of this group began to be called pelargoniums. The big difference between the two plants is indicated by at least the fact that they cannot be crossed. When trying to conduct such an experiment, no seeds are formed. The family of both representatives of the flora is the same - geraniums. This is what a 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. It is she who can be found in the meadows among other grass. The difference between geranium and pelargonium is that it feels great even at low temperatures. Like a beautiful flower, geranium grows in gardens without needing shelter for the winter.
Pelargonium is a flower sensitive to cold. After all, its natural conditions are the African savannas. Therefore, pelargonium, which has sufficient decorative effect, is used to decorate the interior. It can also be placed on summer verandas. But wintering in the open ground is completely contraindicated for her.
There are also external differences between plants. They concern mainly the flowers themselves. In geraniums, they are in most cases solitary. Five, less often 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 two upper ones are isolated from the rest. In this case, the flower turns out to be wrong.
Pelargonium has no more than seven fertile stamens, the rest are underdeveloped.
Consider the difference between geranium and pelargonium when comparing the color of their flowers. On this occasion, 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 meet blue pelargonium, since this color is absolutely not typical for it. The traditional color options in this case will be soft pink, red, white. Interesting are also two-color varieties and those where the petals are marked with spots and contrasting strokes.
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 Ivan-tea; aconite - wrestler or skullcap; solidago is goldenrod, and nivyanik is just meadow chamomile. There are many examples. Knowing the popular name, we quickly remember what the plant looks like. For example, what is a geranium? Grandma's flower on the windowsill immediately comes to mind. But no! This is a pelargonium. Could it be the scientific name of the same plant? Again, they didn't guess. What the people call geranium is a completely different plant. Let's figure it out.
So, geranium and pelargonium are different plants. The “traditional geranium”, with bright red caps that grandmothers cherish on windowsills, is called Pelargonium (Pelargonium). It is one of five genera that is part of the geranium family (Geraniaceae).
But the blue flowers that can be found everywhere - both in meadows, and on forest edges, and in dry steppes, are called geraniums. These are plants from the genus Geranium (Geranium) of the same family Geranium. Translated from the Greek "geranion" - a diminutive of geranos - a crane. This name is given for the shape of the fruit, which resembles the beak of a crane. The people often call geranium crane, crane, 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 savannas of South Africa, which is why they are grown as houseplants.
Also, geranium differs from pelargonium in the structure of flowers - in geranium, the flowers are regular, radially symmetrical, collected in a semi-umbrella. Pelargonium has irregularly shaped flowers, slightly bilaterally symmetrical, collected in umbrellas. Usually the upper petals are larger than the lower ones.
Wild species geraniums, usually blue, lilac and purple tones, white ones are less common. Garden forms with different flower colors have been bred, there are pink, raspberry and “black”. Geraniums grow well in the garden. After flowering, they have a neat bush and retain their decorative effect for a long time. They winter stably, only some imported varieties can freeze slightly.
The coloring of pelargonium flowers of various colors: from pure white and pale pink to burgundy and almost black. There are two-color varieties, with spots and strokes. Different types of pelargoniums 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 (ampelous)
English grandiflora (royal or domestic)
Variegated
Fragrant
succulent
What does pelargonium like.
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