Learning how to grow geraniums, and how to grow Martha Washington Geraniums in particular, is a great way to add some beautiful flowers to your garden!
Geraniums are a garden staple across the prairies, and frankly, all of Canada.
Geraniums are some of the toughest kids on the block — they take the heat, take the cold, they can handle our long days, and bloom far into September and even October, if the frost comes late.
Let’s take a look at geraniums in general and then narrow our focus on Regal or Martha Washington Geraniums specifically.
Why Even Grow Geraniums?
1. Geraniums are Colourful
Geraniums pack a solid pop of colour ranging from the brightest red to the softest pink and white.
Bright orange is the newest addition to the colour palette. You can see geraniums from a mile away because of their colour power.
2. Geraniums are Hardy
Geraniums are tough plants. They take our chilly weather and thrive in our hot weather too.
3. Geraniums are Easy to Grow
Geraniums will grow prolifically one they are placed in the right sunny environment, watered regularly when dry, and fertilized weekly with a balanced fertilizer like 20-20-20, 15-30-15, or a natural fertilizer like Nature’s Source.
Remember to deadhead by taking off the old blossoms for continued blooming.
Related: How to Understand Fertilizer Labels, What is the Best Way to Fertilize Plants?
Martha Washington Geraniums are a Unique Class of Geraniums
Martha Washington Geraniums are also known as Regal Geraniums or Pansy Geraniums and their names are used interchangeably.
They are a collection of geraniums grown from cuttings that is an older, heirloom geranium.
Regal Geraniums originate from South Africa and are named after the wife of George Washington, the 1st president of the United States of America, and were very popular in the early 1900s.
The most alluring feature of Regal Geraniums is their unique, velvety, bicoloured, and ruffled flowers.
They bloom in the red, pink, violet, and white colour spectrum. Many have white accents, either at the petal edges or in the center. Some bicolors have accents in a lighter or darker tone.
This upright growing geranium has leaves that are somewhat serrated and even a little pokey to the touch.
When crushed, the leaves of Martha Washington Geraniums are notably fragrant. Many have a citrusy smell, others have a rose or peppermint scent.
Pansy geraniums grow to heights of 30-45 cm (1-1.5 feet) and usually don’t need any support stakes unless they are growing lopsided.
Uses for Regal Geraniums
The main, and really only, use for Regal geraniums is to add beauty wherever they are planted!
Martha Washington Geraniums grow best in planted container arrangements or hanging baskets.
They display best with a mix of other plants that like this same environment.
Where to Grow Martha Washington Geraniums
Growing Martha Washington geraniums can be puzzling for some home gardeners until they understand their unique growing requirements.
Martha Washington Geraniums differ from the other classes of Geraniums in that they aren’t fans of extremely hot weather.
Martha Washington geraniums like to grow in cooler weather and they may slow down flowering when it gets too hot for them. They set buds during 15 C nights, so the cool Edmonton nights are good for them.
To overcome this potential lull in flowering, it is best to grow Regal geraniums with a collection of other flowers that can take on the heavy lifting (blooming) during the hot days of summer. When the nights get cooler in mid-August, they will start up again.
Martha Washington geraniums provide great early spring colour while other plants are just starting to think about growing, but they don’t like frost.
Grow Martha Washington geraniums in an east, northeastern, or northwestern location where they receive a minimum of 6 hours of sunshine but get a break from the sun’s hot afternoon rays.
Other Plant Care Tips for Regal Geraniums
Watering Martha Washington Geraniums is a little different from other geraniums, they are not as drought tolerant, so check them regularly and keep them moderately moist growing in fertile, well draining soil.
On the other side of the spectrum, Regal geraniums don’t like to stand too long in soggy soil because that puts them at risk for root rot.
Be sure that their containers drain well through the bottom.
Fertilize Martha Washington geraniums weekly with a water soluble fertilizer that has a higher phosphorus content.
Phosphorus is the middle number in the fertilizer number sequence. Look for combinations like 15-30-15.
Avoid an even sequence like 20-20-20 that has a little more nitrogen (that’s the first number) because high nitrogen number will promote a lot of green leafy growth rather than encourage blooming.
Deadheading Martha Washington Geraniums, or removing old flower heads, helps to keep them actively blooming. Don’t pinch or cut back the plants because it can also slow down flowering.
Recommended Martha Washington Geranium Varieties
There are many different varieties of Martha Washington geraniums that will add beauty to your garden.
The Elegance series are easy to find, beautiful varieties that perform well on the prairies.
Look for these varieties when searching out Martha Washington geraniums:
- Bravo – rose coloured with white base
- Burgundy – burgundy with red accents
- Cherry Splash – bicoloured burgundy, pink, or red with contrasting markings
- Claret -red or maroon
- Imperial – burgundy violet centers with a white edge
- Lilac Majesty – purple with a darker purple or red contrasting center
More to Explore
- 6+ Front Door Planter Ideas to Make Your Entrance Shine
- How to Choose the Perfect Hanging Basket
- 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Flower Containers
- Planter Box Design Strategies
- Complete Guide to Creating Show-Stopping Annual Flower Containers
© Sharon Wallish Murphy © Gardening with Sharon
