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Geranium

Pelargonium x hortorum
Also known as: Zonal Geranium, Garden Geranium

Geranium is a flower in the Geraniaceae family. It grows best in full sun with medium moisture, and is listed for USDA zones 2-13. Plants reach maturity about 91–105 days after planting and sit about 12 inches apart.

Varieties

2 from True Leaf Market · sorted by days to maturity
  • Maverick Series91–105 days

    Non-GMO; Container; Annual

    91-105 days maturity. Pelargonium x hortorum. Geranium Maverick Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Maverick Series geranium seeds are an adorable, compact, and vibrant addition to grow in any home or garden. Maverick Series seeds grow hardy geranium mounds tidy enough for indoor gardening, yet robust enough to keep outside during the long summer months. Maverick Series geranium seeds promise dazzling 4-6 inch lush blooming clusters atop robust stalks certain to excite any garden, fresh cut arrangement, or bouquet. Maverick Series geraniums are durable and easy to grow from seed, ideal for indoor containers and pots or for a charming border around the flower bed or walkway.

    View on True Leaf Market
  • Pinto Premium Series91–105 days

    Non-GMO; AAS Winner; Container; Annual

    91-105 days maturity. Pelargonium x hortorum. Geranium Pinto Premium Series Seeds. Non-GMO, Annual. Ornamental. Pinto Premium Series geranium seeds promise some of the most classic yet eye-catching blooms available to hobby gardeners and professional florists alike. Pinto Premium Series enormous 4-5 inch wide clusters of timeless geranium heads are the perfect accent to any office, bedroom, or fresh-cut arrangement. Pinto Premium Series geranium seeds are ideal for 6-inch pots and containers so they can be shown off outdoors yet stored safely inside before the frost. Pinto Premium Series geraniums are easy to grow from seed and are known to thrive in a variety of poor soils and gardens prone to heat and drought.

    View on True Leaf Market
Family
Geraniaceae
Category
Flower
Form
Bush
Lifecycle
annual
Zone
2-13
Height
1–1.3333333333333333 ft
Spread
0.8333333333333333–1 ft
Sun
Full sun

Plant spacing

1 plant per square footSquare-foot planting diagram: one geranium fills a 1-foot square, spaced 12 inches from its neighbors.
1 plant per square foot

In a square-foot bed, space geranium about 12 in apart — that fits 1 plant in each 1-foot square (1×1). Wider rows or containers space the same.

Water
Medium

Plan your geranium planting

Add geranium to a free GardenDraft plan and get sow, transplant, and harvest dates computed for your ZIP code — with a drag-and-drop bed layout and reminders when it’s time to plant.

Start your free plan →

At a glance

Days to harvest
91–105 days
From transplant or sow to first harvest
Harvest style
Harvest once
One main harvest
After harvest
Use within days
Quality eases off after peak
Frost tolerance
Tender · to ~32°F
Lowest temperature the foliage usually survives
Germination
~60%
Typical minimum germination rate

Growing timeline

When to plant and harvest geraniumPlanting timeline for geranium, relative to last frost: start indoors from 11 weeks before last frost to 1 week after last frost; grow from 1 week after last frost to 14 weeks after last frost; harvest from 14 weeks after last frost to 16 weeks after last frost.Start indoorsGrowLast frostTransplant
Start geranium indoors ~12 weeks before transplanting 1 week after last frost; first harvest 14 weeks after last frost.
Seed to transplant
70-84 days
Outdoor planting
7 to 14 days vs frost
Propagation
Seed
Schedule anchor
Last Frost

Care & troubleshooting— extension-sourced, with citations

Something looks wrong?

Describe what you see on your geraniumand we'll rank the likely causes — most likely first, least-invasive fix first.

Botrytis gray mold

Diseasemoderate

Symptoms: fuzzy gray-brown mold on leaves, stems, flowers, or fruit; soft watery rot on fruit and blossoms; dieback from cut or wounded stems; mold spreading in cool humid still conditions; blighted flowers that fail to set

  • CulturalRemove infected tissue and old blossomsstrong evidence — extension confidence

    Prune out moldy leaves, stems, and fruit and clear fallen blossoms and debris where the fungus gets started, disposing of them rather than composting.

    Source: UMN Extension; Cornell

  • CulturalImprove airflow and reduce leaf wetnessstrong evidence — extension confidence

    Space and stake plants for good air movement, water at the base in the morning, and harvest ripe fruit promptly so botrytis has fewer cool, humid, wet surfaces to colonize.

    Source: UMN Extension; Cornell

Spider mites

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: fine pale stippling/speckling on leaves; fine webbing on undersides in hot dry spells; leaves bronzing and dropping

  • CulturalHose down and raise humidity· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence

    Mites thrive in hot, dry, dusty conditions. Spray foliage (especially undersides) with water to dislodge them and reduce dust.

    Source: UC IPM

  • OrganicInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil - label use only· every 5 days · ~2 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence

    Apply to undersides per label; mites resist many products, so soaps/oils are preferred. Not in extreme heat.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM

Whiteflies

Pestmoderate

Symptoms: clouds of tiny white insects fly up when plants are disturbed; yellowing stippled leaves; sticky honeydew and black sooty mold; weak stunted growth

  • CulturalRemove infested leaves and hose off· every 4 daysmoderate evidence — extension confidence

    Pick off and discard heavily infested lower leaves and rinse colonies off undersides with a strong spray of water; yellow sticky cards help monitor numbers.

    Source: UC IPM: Whiteflies

  • OrganicApply a labeled soap or oil· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence

    Apply a labeled insecticidal soap or neem oil per the label, covering leaf undersides; these reduce but won't eliminate whiteflies, so repeat as needed.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM: Whiteflies

Aphids

Pestlow

Symptoms: clusters of tiny soft-bodied insects on new growth and undersides; sticky honeydew or sooty mold; curled distorted new leaves; ants tending them

  • CulturalBlast off with water· every 3 days · ~2 wksstrong evidence — extension confidence

    Knock colonies off with a strong jet of water in the morning; repeat every few days. Light infestations rarely need more.

    Source: UC IPM: Aphids

  • OrganicInsecticidal soap - label use only· every 1 wk · ~3 wksmoderate evidence — extension confidence

    For persistent colonies apply insecticidal soap to undersides per label. Avoid open flowers.

    Always follow the product label — it is the law.

    Source: UC IPM