One sure way to brighten up your outside space this summer is with pelargoniums…

Usually in June, I buy three vibrant pink pelargoniums to fill a terracotta trough.  I then sit it outside on one of our kitchen window sills, so that we can see it when we’re sat at our kitchen table.

And as long as I regularly deadhead them and water them occasionally, they’ll bloom until early autumn, until I dare not leave them outside any longer for fear of frost damage.

Their scent still reminds me of when I was growing up and my mum used to put individual plants in pots on steps in our yard.

Commonly called geraniums, there are lots of different varieties of this popular plant in colours ranging from white and pink to purple and red.  And there are trailing as well as upright varieties.

Their Latin name comes from the Greek word ‘pelargos’ meaning stork or crane, and refers to the shape of their seed pods which resemble the bird.  Even their common name, geranium, comes from the Greek word ‘geranos’, meaning crane.

However, don’t get these tender pelargoniums confused with hardy perennial geraniums, such as Geranium ‘Rozanne’.

Originally from South Africa, as well as looking great in containers, you can also place pelargoniums in flower beds.

And care-wise, it’s best to plant them in the full sun in well-drained soil and to let the plants virtually dry out before watering.

Some people grow them as annuals and replace them each year.  Over-wintering the plants is another option, as is taking cuttings.  And if you wish to take cuttings, it’s best to do it between May and mid-September.

So, if you’d like to add an instant burst of colour to your window sill, patio, terrace or garden this summer, why not buy some pelargoniums?  They’re so easy to grow…

And the butterflies love them too!

Ps. All images are courtesy of Alissa - taken whilst on a recent visit to Perch Hill.

Thanks for reading ♥