Pelargonium zonale 'Montevideo' - Bedding Geranium

This bushy, flowering annual produces colourful flowers in late spring to early summer. This plant is not hardy but can be grown outdoors in summer in the UK, and overwintered indoors or under glass above 5°C.

This Bedding Geranium sports beautiful flowers above a bushy nest of bright green foliage. While they are not hardy to the UK winter, you can grow Pelargoniums outdoors in summer, where they will bring a splash of gorgeous colour to your garden. They can happily be grown in containers, making them easier to move and overwinter indoors or in a greenhouse (Above 5°C). Give these plants a sunny, warm, sheltered spot and they will reward you with beautiful flowers and lovely feathered foliage to match.

Scientific Name
Pelargonium zonale

Common Name
Geranium, Bedding Geranium, Zonal Pelargonium. Pelargonium zonale

Origin
Native to South Africa

Pruning Tips
Pinch back tips in spring or early summer to encourage bushy growth. Deadhead regularly to promote flowering.

Wildlife Value
In their native habitat, these plants are pollinated by long-tongued flies, but they are not attractive to pollinators in the UK.

Positioning
Full sun to partial shade, and ideally a sheltered spot too.

Water
Drought-tolerant. Should only need extra water in very dry weather.

Soil
Grow in well-draining soil; neutral to alkaline works best.

Food
Will respond well to feeding; use a balanced fertiliser in spring, and once flowers appear, switch to a high-potassium fertiliser (e.g. tomato feed) for best results.

Pet-safe
No, this plant can be toxic to cats and dogs, so no nibbling!

Sprouts Top Tips
You can take softwood cuttings in late summer to insure against losing your plants in winter; propagate these indoors in the colder months, ready to be planted out the following spring once all risk of frost has passed.
Make sure wherever it is growing, it is well-ventilated and well-drained so that neither the soil nor the plant sit soggy.