These Aren't Your Grandma's Geraniums

Some gardeners think geraniums are old fashioned flowering plants. Today Southern Gardening is at Rivers Greenhouse and Garden and these plants are certainly not your grandma’s geraniums. Calliope is one of the best and most versatile geraniums available, and it’s suited for baskets and containers. These plants have a vigorous semi-trailing and strong branching growth habit and semi-double flowers. Calliope is an interspecific hybrid, a cross between upright zonal and trailing ivy geraniums. Red is the most popular color and Calliope Medium Dark Red doesn’t disappoint. This selection has outstanding flower color, and is a rich, deep, velvety red. But Calliope geraniums don’t stop with traditional red; they come in a wide range of colors. Medium white pops with its pure, white flowers. Large Rose Mega Splash Bicolor has intense pink petals that are splashed with a deeper red-pink eye. Medium Pink Flame bicolor has large light pink flowers with hot pink eyes. Geraniums likes lots of sun and are heat and drought tolerant. Always plant geraniums in well drained potting mix and only water when soil is dry to the touch. Be careful not to over-water because geraniums don’t like wet feet. Feed twice a month with water soluble fertilizer. And don’t forget to deadhead for the best flowering performance. Calliope, like all geraniums, work great in containers, combination plantings, hanging baskets. I’m horticulturist Gary Bachman and I’ll see you next time on Southern Gardening.