How do I know if my GERANIUMS are perennials?

Question

I don't have a care tag, so I don't know if there are perennials or not.

Discription: The leaves are medium deep green of one solid color, and the flowers are two-tone, pink on the outside with darker pink (fuschia) towards the center. Please, any information (or questions for a better answer) would be welcomed and appreciated. Finally, if they are perennials, do I just let them die down in the Fall, like Hostas, and look for them to rise again in Spring?

I live in the Western New York area.

Thank you.

Answer 1

There are Geraniums and there are Pelargoniums. In the botanical world, they are both classified as perennials.

Geraniums are commonly called Crane's bill or hardy geraniuns and vary in hardiness. Some are quite hardy and have varying foliage shapes and flower colors.

For care, these need part shade (there are a few that can tolerate sun but since you don't know what you have, put in part shade), they like moderate water and are winter hardy so leave alone in winter and let them go dormant.

Pelargoniums are commonly called Zonal Geraniums and, while they are perennials, they are treated like annuals frequently.

For care, these like sun to part shade with moderate water. Do not overwater these. They are hardy to around USDA Z8 or so. For your climate, you can bring them in during the winter and place in a sunny window or basement and overwinter them there until spring arrives and frost has passed.

Geraniums look like these:

http://www.shared-visions.com/explore/ga...

Pelargoniums look like these:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/im...

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 2

Here they are annuals.

Answer 3

The ones You are talking about..aren't geraniums actually...They are pelagoriums.  True geraniums are a perrenial in Your zone though, and They aren't that attractive.  Pelagoriums can be brought inside for the winter and used as a houseplant. Put them in bright light though.  They are also very easy to take cuttings from.  Root them in water or soil.

Answer 4

follow BooBoo's info... and read here...

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/...

you can keep geraniums over winter in a few ways so that you have them again next year... I have some that are now in their fifth year and I keep them in my little greenhouse... I know keeping them in the house in great light works, too... but I've not tried the bare-root idea myself....lots of folks I've talked to say it's worked for them, tho....

Answer 5

On Google search < hardy geraniums>.

'Rob's plants - the hardy geraniums' show illustrated descriptions of various kinds of hardy (perennial) geraniums.

The correct botanical name for the bedding varieties is Pelargonium.Pelargoniums are not winter hardy. They can be overwintered in a frost-free place in the house.