Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Do Geraniums Like Sun or Shade?
Do Geraniums Like Sun or Shade?. "Geranium" is the common name of plants that belong to two different genuses comprised of more than 600 species. The range of light conditions is as wide as the choice of species. Some geraniums need full sun to bloom, while others require shade to grow well. Tropical or annual geraniums can tolerate direct sun....
"Geranium" is the common name of plants that belong to two different genuses comprised of more than 600 species. The range of light conditions is as wide as the choice of species. Some geraniums need full sun to bloom, while others require shade to grow well. Tropical or annual geraniums can tolerate direct sun. Hardy or perennial geraniums grow best in light shade.
One Name; Two Types of Plants
The name geranium refers to two distantly related but very different species of garden plants. When used as a genus, Geranium refers to a group of hardy, mostly shade-tolerant perennial plants collectively referred to as bloody cranesbill. It also refers to sun-loving potted or bedding plants that belong to the genus Pelargonium, which are called storksbill. Pelargonium, also known as zonal geranium, are not frost hardy and usually are treated as annuals, but can be brought inside to survive the winter.
Sun-Loving Geraniums
The bedding or zonal geranium that belong to the genus Pelargonium flourishes in full sun. While able to tolerate morning shade, the common flowering summer geranium will not live or bloom well if planted in full shade. This sun-loving flower is well suited to well-drained, slightly dry situations; over-watering is a common cause of death. To encourage prolific, season-long blooming, remove spent flowers and stalks, a practice known as dead heading. The common garden or summer geranium, comes in a rainbow of colors from white, pink, red, to salmon, orange, violet.
Shade-Tolerant Geraniums
The hardy geranium is a true botanical Geranium that survives winter cold and freezes, returning every spring. Sometimes known as bloody cranesbills (Geranium sanguineum), these woodland species do well in light shade. Low-growing and mostly care-free, the more direct sun this geranium receives, the more important it is to plant it in well-drained soil.
Garden Geraniums
The botanical family Geraniaceae contains many species worldwide. Two of the genera (Pelargonium and Geranium) provide many well-known and useful plants for the garden. Geraniums that require full sun include scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.), and ivy or trailing geranium (Pelargonium spp). Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense), wild geranium (Geranium maculatum) and showy geranium or purple geranium (Geranium x magnificum) all prefer part sun to shade.
