The Perennial Question: Do Geraniums Come Back?
The question of whether geraniums come back each year is a common one among gardeners, and the answer is not a simple yes or no. It largely depends on the specific type of geranium you are growing and the climate in which you live. While some varieties are famously tender and treated as annuals, many true geraniums, often referred to as hardy geraniums or cranesbills, are robust perennials that will reliably return to your garden year after year, often with minimal intervention.
- Hardy geraniums (Cranesbills) are perennial.
- Tender geraniums (Pelargoniums) are typically grown as annuals.
- Overwintering success depends on variety and climate.
- Proper care significantly impacts perennialisation.
Distinguishing between these two main groups is the first step in determining their perennial potential. The plants most people commonly call 'geraniums' in the UK, particularly the bedding varieties with large, showy flowers in shades of red, pink, white, and purple, are botanically known as Pelargoniums. These are native to warmer climates and generally cannot survive a harsh frost. However, the plants botanically classified as Geraniums, commonly called cranesbills, are a different story. These are typically much hardier and are perfectly suited to surviving cold winters outdoors in most of the UK.
If your Pelargoniums didn't survive the winter planted outdoors, it's usually because they are not frost-tolerant. For them to 'come back', you would need to overwinter them indoors or treat them as annuals, replacing them each spring. True hardy geraniums, on the other hand, are designed to withstand the cold and will regrow from their roots.
Identifying Your Geranium Type
To know for sure if your geraniums come back, you need to identify the species. Pelargoniums often have distinctively scented leaves, and their flower heads are typically larger and more rounded. They are the ones frequently used in hanging baskets and containers for summer colour. True Geraniums, or cranesbills, often have lobed, sometimes hairy leaves, and their flowers, while beautiful, are usually smaller and more delicate, often with five petals. Many varieties have a more sprawling or mounding habit, making them excellent ground cover.
The key to perennial success lies in understanding these botanical distinctions. If you bought a plant labelled simply 'geranium' from a garden centre for summer bedding, it's highly probable it's a Pelargonium. If you are looking at plants grown for their foliage or as a more naturalistic garden plant, it's more likely a true Geranium. This fundamental difference dictates whether you can expect it to return from the ground each spring.
Factors Influencing Geranium Survival
Several factors determine whether your geraniums will grace your garden again next season. For Pelargoniums, the primary challenge is frost. In milder regions, a Pelargonium might survive a very mild winter if well-protected, but this is unreliable. For most gardeners, the decision is whether to treat them as annuals or go through the process of overwintering them indoors. True hardy Geraniums, however, are more resilient, but even they benefit from specific conditions to ensure their return and vigorous growth.
Soil drainage is paramount for both types, but especially for hardy Geraniums. While they need adequate moisture, their roots will rot if left sitting in waterlogged soil, particularly during damp winter months. Planting them in well-draining soil or amending heavy clay with grit or compost is crucial. Raised beds or containers can also provide the necessary drainage, allowing excess water to escape freely.
Climate Considerations
Your local climate plays a significant role. Hardy Geraniums are generally rated for UK hardiness, meaning they can typically withstand temperatures down to -10°C or even -15°C. However, extreme or prolonged cold snaps, especially when combined with wet soil, can still pose a risk. In very exposed or northern parts of the UK, even hardy varieties might struggle without some protection. Conversely, if you're in a very mild, sheltered area, Pelargoniums might survive outdoors with a bit of luck and mulching, though it's still a gamble.
For Pelargoniums, the aim is to avoid frost entirely. This means either bringing them into a frost-free environment like a greenhouse, conservatory, or a bright, cool indoor room. Hardy Geraniums, once established, are far more forgiving. Their survival hinges more on avoiding sodden roots than on mild temperatures. Selecting a planting spot that doesn't accumulate standing water is often the most important step you can take to ensure they come back.
Planting Depth and Mulching
For hardy Geraniums, a good layer of mulch applied in late autumn can provide vital insulation for the root system against harsh frosts. This mulch should ideally be organic, such as compost or well-rotted manure, which also enriches the soil as it breaks down. Avoid piling mulch directly against the plant's crown, as this can trap moisture and lead to rot. Instead, keep it a few centimetres away, extending out to the plant's drip line.
The depth at which a plant is planted also matters. While not usually an issue for established hardy Geraniums, ensuring they are planted at the correct depth initially, with the crown of the plant at soil level, is important for their long-term health and ability to regrow. For Pelargoniums being overwintered, planting them in pots that can be easily moved indoors is key, and ensuring the pot has good drainage holes prevents the root ball from becoming saturated.
Encouraging Geraniums to Return
If you have hardy Geraniums and want to maximise their chances of returning year after year, a few proactive steps can make a substantial difference. These are plants that, with a little encouragement, will establish into robust specimens that provide reliable colour and texture in your garden borders or containers.
The most impactful action for hardy Geraniums is to ensure they are planted in a location with excellent drainage. This is the single most common reason why a supposedly perennial plant might fail to reappear. If your soil is heavy or prone to waterlogging, consider amending it with plenty of organic matter and grit, or opt for raised beds or containers where you have more control over the soil composition. A thriving plant is a resilient plant, better equipped to handle the stresses of winter.
Pruning and Deadheading for Longevity
While not strictly for survival, regular deadheading of flowering Pelargoniums encourages more blooms throughout the summer. For hardy Geraniums, a mid-season 'hack and whack' (cutting back by about half after the first flush of flowers) can promote a second wave of blooms and keep the plant looking tidier. This vigorous pruning also encourages stronger new growth for the following season. Don't be afraid to cut them back hard; they are remarkably forgiving.
After the flowering season concludes, leaving spent flower heads and foliage on hardy Geraniums until early spring can offer some protection to the crown over winter. However, if you notice any signs of disease or rot, it's best to remove affected material promptly. In early spring, before new growth appears, clear away any old debris and apply a top-dressing of compost or slow-release fertiliser to give them a good start. This annual tidying helps prevent disease and supports vigorous regrowth.
Overwintering Pelargoniums
For those growing Pelargoniums, the process of ensuring they 'come back' involves bringing them indoors. There are a few methods: you can either pot them up and keep them as whole plants in a frost-free location, or you can take cuttings in late summer or early autumn. Cuttings are often easier to manage and take up less space. They root readily in pots of compost or even in water, and can then be grown on in small pots over winter.
The key to successful overwintering for tender geraniums is providing a cool, dry, and frost-free environment.
Another technique for Pelargoniums is to simply dig them up, shake off excess soil, and hang them upside down in a cool, dry place like a shed or garage, ensuring they are protected from frost. Some gardeners store them in boxes filled with dry peat or sand. Whatever method you choose, the goal is to keep them dormant but alive, ready to be repotted and encouraged into growth in spring. This approach allows you to preserve favourite varieties without needing to purchase new ones each year.
Revive dormant Pelargoniums by gently trimming back any dead or straggly stems and repotting them into fresh compost in early spring, watering sparingly until new growth appears.
Alternatives If Your Geraniums Don't Return
If your geraniums, whether Pelargoniums or hardy types, fail to return as expected, or if you're looking to diversify your garden's summer colour palette, there are numerous excellent alternatives that offer similar or even superior performance and aesthetic appeal. Exploring these options ensures your garden remains vibrant and full, regardless of your geraniums' perennial status.
For those seeking the bold, bright colours often associated with Pelargoniums, consider plants like Petunias. These offer a profusion of blooms in a vast array of colours and patterns, thriving in sunny spots and performing brilliantly in hanging baskets and containers. Like Pelargoniums, many petunias are treated as annuals, providing reliable, season-long displays.
Vibrant Summer Bedding Alternatives
Marigolds (Tagetes) are another superb choice for summer bedding. They are exceptionally easy to grow from seed or young plants, tolerate heat and a range of soils, and come in cheerful shades of yellow, orange, and red. They often continue flowering until the first frosts. For a more delicate, airy display, Sweet Peas are wonderful; their fragrant, climbing flowers are perfect for adding height and scent to borders or providing cut flowers for the home. Growing sweet peas requires a bit of early effort, but the reward is spectacular.
If you are specifically looking for plants that offer a similar long flowering season to geraniums, especially hardy types, look towards Salvias, Coreopsis, or Gaillardia. Many varieties of Salvia offer spikes of colour for months on end, while Coreopsis and Gaillardia provide cheerful daisy-like flowers. These are generally hardy and reliably perennial, making them excellent long-term garden investments. Their different forms and textures can complement hardy geraniums beautifully.
Ground Cover and Foliage Interest
For gardeners who appreciate the foliage and spreading habit of some hardy Geraniums, alternatives like Ajuga (Bugleweed) offer attractive, often bronze or variegated foliage and spikes of blue flowers, thriving in similar semi-shady conditions. If you're after a different form of ground cover, consider Sedums, which offer succulent foliage and late-season blooms, or even some varieties of Begonia, which, while often grown as annuals for their spectacular flowers, also come in types prized for their striking leaf colours and patterns, adding interest even before they bloom.
When considering alternatives, think about the conditions in your garden – how much sun do you receive, what is your soil type, and how much maintenance are you prepared to undertake? Plants like Nasturtiums, for example, are incredibly easy to grow, tolerate poorer soils, and offer bright, edible flowers and foliage, acting as a companion plant for vegetables too. Even plants like Sunflowers, when planted as annuals, provide a dramatic vertical element and cheerful blooms, though they require sun and space. Choosing plants like Fuchsia, which can be perennial in milder areas or overwintered indoors, offers a different, often pendulous, floral display.
When selecting alternatives, aim for plants with similar light and soil requirements to where your original geraniums were planted to minimise disruption and maximise their chance of success.