Also known as Cranesbill · 2.5k gardener saves

Geranium: the varieties gardeners actually grow

Geranium, the genus most gardeners know as cranesbill. We track 66 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.

66 varietiesZones 4–10Mostly full sun

The 12 most-saved Geranium varieties

Of 66 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.

#1 most saved

Bigroot Geranium

Geranium macrorrhizum

Zones 4–8· 90 saves

#2 most saved

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

Zones 4–8· 85 saves· from $28

#3 most saved

Showy Cranesbill

Geranium x magnificum 'Bevan's Variety'

Zones 4–8· 78 saves

Cranesbill 'Rozanne'

Geranium x magnificum 'Rozanne'

Zones 4–8· 78 saves

Azure Rush Geranium

Geranium incanum 'Azure Rush'

Zones 5–8· 76 saves· from $21

Cranesbill 'Orion'

Geranium maculatum 'Orion'

Zones 4–8· 65 saves

Spotted Geranium

Geranium maculatum 'Chatto'

Zones 4–8· 64 saves

Woodland Geranium Splish Splash

Geranium pratense 'Splish Splash'

Zones 4–8· 62 saves

Cambridge Geranium 'Intense'

Geranium x cantabrigiense 'Intense'

Zones 4–8· 61 saves

New Hampshire Purple Cranebill

Geranium macrorrhizum 'New Hampshire Purple'

Zones 4–8· 59 saves· from $15

Elke Geranium

Geranium x hybrida 'Elke'

Zones 4–8· 54 saves

Midnight Ghost Geranium

Geranium x hybrida 'Midnight Ghost'

Zones 4–8· 53 saves

Browse all 66 Geranium varieties →

How to grow Geranium

What the Geranium varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 40 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.

The Geranium year

DivideMarch and September100% of varieties
Divide clumps every 3-5 years to maintain vigor
Spring CleanupFebruary and March88% of varieties
Remove old, dead foliage before new growth begins
PruneJune and July85% of varieties
Cut back spent flowering stems and foliage by 1/3 to encourage rebloom
MulchMarch33% of varieties
Refresh mulch layer in spring to conserve moisture
FertilizeMarch30% of varieties
Apply a light, balanced fertilizer in early spring

Do

Prune lightly after flowering to maintain shape
Water regularly during dry spells 🌱
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms
Water deeply during dry spells 🌱
Water regularly to keep soil evenly moist 🌱

Avoid

Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot ❌
Refrain from heavy fertilization late in the season
Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot ❌
Do not fertilize in late fall

What goes wrong with Geranium

Problem	What you'll see	What to do
Aphids	Sticky residue and distorted leaves	Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil
Whiteflies	White flying insects on undersides of leaves	Use yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap
Spider mites	Fine webbing on foliage	Increase humidity and spray with neem oil
Spider Mites	Fine webbing and speckled leaves	Increase humidity and apply miticide if needed
Root rot	Wilting and yellowing leaves	Ensure well-drained soil and reduce watering
Powdery mildew	White powdery coating on leaves	Apply neem oil or sulfur-based fungicide
Botrytis (Gray Mold)	Gray fuzzy mold on flowers and stems	Improve air circulation and remove affected parts

Making more Geranium

Division

Dig up mature clumps in early spring or fall.
Separate into smaller sections with roots attached.
Replant immediately at same depth and water well.

Cuttings

Take softwood cuttings in late spring
Dip cut end in rooting hormone
Insert into moist potting mix
Maintain humidity with plastic cover
Roots develop in 3–4 weeks

Geranium questions

How many types of Geranium are there?

The Sow catalog tracks 66 distinct Geranium varieties. The most popular — ranked by 2.5k real gardener saves — are shown first above.

What zones does Geranium grow in?

Across its varieties, Geranium covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.

When does Geranium bloom?

Most Geranium varieties bloom in late spring to early summer, mid-spring, late spring to frost. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.

Which Geranium should I choose?

Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.

Keep exploring

Geranium shows up in

By hardiness zone

Related genera

Design with Geranium in your own yard

Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.