Everyone knows what a geranium is. Right?

Wrong!

A saying I repeat often is "It isn't what you don't know that causes problems. It's what you do know that isn't true that causes problems."

In this case in my design work, I often use geraniums as a hardy perennial for some texture and color. Then, I have to explain that what I am talking about isn't that orange geranium that my grandmother grew. It is a true hardy perennial with small single flowers usually in the blue/violet shades.

Geranium sanguinium is a true geranium.

This is a pelargonium.

The confusion is almost standard. Common names are often out of date. At one time botonists classed Pels as geraniums but in their infinite wisdom they confused the gardening public by moving them out of the geranium genus into the pelergonium genus. Confusion reigns.

In our area true geraniums are still uncommon and most people think of the pelergonium when they hear geranium. I suppose it might be easier to change the name of the true geraniums.

The true geraniums are the focus of a lot of breeding attention and there are several different kinds. At one end is the invasive geranium incanum that I have seen cover a shrub 6' tall and 8' wide in a couple of years to the more compact sanquinium types.

In all cases they like full sun and moderate water. In my opinion they are much more attractive in most spots.