The Geraniums of Cordoba, Spain, above. 

The common geranium becomes extraordinary when planted en masse. Ivy-leaf geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum) grow like vines, up to three feet or more in length, making them an ideal selection for hanging baskets and window boxes. 

Scented geraniums (Pelargonium graveolens) have edible flowers and fragrant leaves, and work well as house plants. Flower production is more modest than the ivy-leaf geraniums, but the soft, fine-textured leaves make up in fragrance for the lack of showy flowers. Choose from rose, lemon, nutmeg, peppermint, or apple-scented geraniums. 

Color-massing geraniums in window boxes or planters for decks and patios is an inexpensive way to add seasonal color to outdoor living spaces. Use large containers so they don’t dry out quickly in the heat of summer, and group them together to make watering easier, and create more of a visual impact. 

Geraniums are heavy feeders. A regular feeding schedule (once a month) will produce an abundance of blooms. Mildly acidic soil is ideal (pH 6.5) for healthy plants. Be sure to water plants first thing in the morning, before the heat sets in, so the roots are well irrigated. Plants weakened by drought are much more susceptible to unwelcome pests and diseases.

String Gardens from the Netherlands ~ hanging sculptures for the garden porch.
The bare roots of selected plants are wrapped in a sphagnum moss and soil mixture, then covered with green sheet moss and wrapped with twine. The root ball is about the size of a grapefruit. Care: submerge root ball in water until air bubbles disappear, allow to drip-dry and then re-hang. 

2012: Year of the Geranium (National Gardening Bureau). 

Geraniums are easy to grow in full sun, blooming most of the summer with only a little pinching required to keep up flower production. For top-of-the-line garden performance, look for Pelargonium hortorum ’Calliope’ and ‘Caliente’ which are strong-growing, heat-tolerant plants, and profuse bloomers. (Last year, ‘Calliope Dark Red’ was my favorite geranium, with deep garnet-red flower clusters.)  

For showy foliage geraniums, try one of the variegated forms which don’t offer as much flower production, but the leaves are a stunning addition for container gardens. And for fragrance, use scented geraniums, which often having a trailing habit and work well in hanging baskets or in combination with other herbs.