Geraniums (lat. Pelargonium) - not to be confused with the native cranesbills (lat. Geranium) - are very popular balcony plants due to their abundance of flowers and flowering joy. There are over 200 different species, around 30 of which are cultivated in this country. Hanging geraniums in particular are very popular with balcony gardeners.
Two-tone varieties of the hanging geranium are particularly beautiful to look at
Lush cascade of flowers
Pelargonium peltatum is the botanical name of the hanging geranium. They differ from other types of geraniums primarily in the length of their shoots - Tyrolean hanging geraniums, for example, can grow up to 150 meters long - and the shiny leaves, which are very similar to ivy. Hanging geraniums come in many different shades: red, pink, violet and white are often represented in very different shades, although there are also many two-tone varieties. In addition, the flowers can be double, semi-double or simply structured.
special feature? Tyrolean hanging geraniums
Perhaps you are familiar with these pictures or are often out and about in Tyrol or some areas of Bavaria: On some houses, the house walls can no longer be seen because of the lush, waterfall-like cascade of blooming hanging geraniums. Before you start wondering and wondering why your balcony doesn't look like this: In fact, these are special varieties that, outside of Tyrol, grow the same as normal hanging geraniums. Tyrolean farmers often plant their geraniums in multiple tiers, which gives the impression of particularly long geranium shoots, but is basically just a trick.
The most beautiful varieties of hanging geraniums
The table below gives you an overview of some of the most beautiful hanging geranium varieties.
| variety | flower color | particularities | tendril length | planting distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BlackNight | very dark purple-red | unusual flower color | up to 70 cm | 20-30cm |
| White Burgundy | two-tone white-violet | do not have to be cleaned | up to 70 cm | 20-30cm |
| royal night | very dark red | rosebud flowers | up to 70 cm | 20-30cm |
| White Glacier | snow white with red markings | very keen to grow | up to 70 cm | 20-30cm |
| burgundy | burgundy | self-cleaning | 60-80cm | 20 cm |
| Pink Sybil | bright pink | semi-hanging | 70 cm | 20 cm |
| shocking pink | strong pink | great color | up to 70 cm | 20-30cm |
| Villetta lilac | beautiful purple | vigorous growth | up to 70 cm | 20-30cm |
| Quirin | dark violet | semi-hanging | up to 70 cm | 20 cm |
| Tyrolean fire | bright red | genuine Tyrolean hanging geraniums | 100-150cm | 20 cm |
| Alpine | white with red eye | genuine Tyrolean hanging geraniums | 100-150cm | 20 cm |
| jobsa | pink, bordered with white | genuine Tyrolean hanging geraniums | 100-150cm | 20 cm |
tips
Many geraniums - especially the varieties with double and semi-double flowers - are very sensitive to rain and should therefore be protected in rainy summers. Geraniums with single flowers are often less sensitive in this regard.