View allAll Photos Tagged Geranium
Pelargonium species are evergreen perennials indigenous to Southern Africa, and are drought and heat tolerant, but can tolerate only minor frosts. They are commonly known as geraniums.
Geranium is a genus of 422 species of flowering annual, biennial, and perennial plants that are commonly known as the cranesbills.
Red Geranium flowers are the color of friendship and known to represent romance, affection or power. Giving or receiving red geraniums could be thought of as a gesture of love or desire.
Geraniums, particularly the Pelargonium species commonly grown as annuals in pots and gardens, owe their immense popularity to a perfect storm of gardener-friendly traits. They are remarkably easy to care for, tolerating a range of conditions and forgiving missed waterings more than many other flowering plants. Their vibrant, cheerful blooms come in a dazzling array of colors, from bright reds and pinks to whites, purples, and oranges, offering consistent visual appeal from spring right through the first frosts. This long blooming season, combined with their suitability for containers, hanging baskets, and garden beds alike, makes them a reliable and versatile choice for adding dependable color to almost any sunny spot.
However, while a hit with human gardeners, cultivated geraniums aren't always the best friend to beneficial insects, particularly pollinators like bees and butterflies. Many popular varieties have been bred for large, showy, often double flowers. While beautiful to us, this breeding can inadvertently make it difficult for insects to access the pollen and nectar hidden within the complex layers of petals. Furthermore, some varieties produce very little nectar or pollen compared to native or single-flowered plants, offering limited food resources for insects actively seeking sustenance.
In essence, the traits that make geraniums so appealing for decorative purposes – ease of growth and visually striking, often modified flowers – are precisely what diminishes their ecological value for many insects. They serve more as a visual treat for humans than a vital food source or habitat component for the local insect population. While not necessarily "toxic" to most insects (though some scented varieties can act as repellents), they simply don't offer the rich buffet of accessible pollen and nectar that more insect-friendly flowers provide, leading to them being considered poor choices for supporting pollinator health and garden biodiversity compared to other flowering plants.
Please, view on black.
Thank you for you visit, comments and favs. Don't use this image without my explicit permission.
Happy weekend to all my flickr friends!!