Question about Geraniums

Hi folks! I am embarrassed. But I am still new to all this lol. A customer (I work in a Nursery) recently asked me why one particular Geranium was labeled a "seed Geranium" I have tried to look it up in plant files, and couldnt find an answer. Is it as simple as they are propagated by seed? Are the the same as Zonals, because they have the same name??? Thanks in advance for your knowledge!!

The common name 'Geranium' is used for plants in the genus Pelargonium.
Ivy Geranium (P. peltatum), Zonal Geranium (P. x hortorum), Martha Washington Geranium (P. domesticum), Scented Geraniums (many species).
These plants do not seem to have much in common, but I'll try...
Leaves are usually sort of rounded, often lobed or toothed. Some are deep cut (especially in the scented geraniums). Some are blotched or marked (especially in the zonals). Leaves almost always have some odor (especially in the zonals and scented group, but I also notice it in the ivy geraniums) Flowers are usually in clusters. Flowers may be any of a very wide range of colors, often pink, red, white and into the lavenders and purples. I do not think there is a true blue or yellow. Flowers may be multi-colored, especially in the Martha Washingtons.

Geranium is also an actual genus.
Many of the plants in this genus are relatively low, often spreading, great perennials for a bright, somewhat shaded spot.
Common factors:
Leaves are usually round, but also usually lobed to deeply cut, some to the point that the 'round' outline is all but lost.
Rarely are the leaves or flowers fragrant.
Look up some of these names to get an idea of what they might look like.
Geranium 'Johnson Blue'
Geranium x cantabrigensis 'Biokovo'
Geranium sanquinium
Geranium himalayense 'Gravetye
and many others.
There are many species cultivated in the trade, and there are MANY MANY hybrids, varieties and so on. Each area probably has its favorites, so the ones I suggest you look at might not be the ones your customers are looking for, or suppliers are offering.

As for calling any of these 'Seed' Geraniums, well, most of the true Geranums (including many varieties and hybrids) will set seed, and can become invasive. A few (Hybrids, mostly, I think) are sterile. I suppose if someone were looking for the original species, the wild, uncultivated version, that might be called a 'seed' geranium, that is, reproduced from seed. Or a variety that came true from seed (not all will. Many varieties will revert to their ancestral colors over a few generations)

The term 'Seed Geranium' It is not a specific species, though. It could be any species or variety grown from seed. They could also be talking about the Pelargoniums. Any variety that could be reproduced and come true from seed.

I suspect that what is meant by a 'seed Geranium' is a Pelargonium that has been grown from seed collected from a hybrid parent, and which cannot be assigned to any particular cultivar. As you probably know, seedlings from a hybrid parent plant do not always 'come true'; that is, they are often somewhat different from the parent plant.

What Diana says about the confusion between Geraniums and Pelargoniums is correct. At one time, Pelargoniums and Geraniums were all lumped together in one genus - Geranium. Later, the Pelargoniums were separated into their own genus, but by then everyone was calling them Geraniums, and the name has stuck. Most Pelargoniums are from southern Africa, and are not very frost tolerant - usually anything more than a very light freeze will kill them. Many Geraniums, on the other hand, are from temperate regions and will stand quite a lot of freezing.

Neither true Geraniums nor Pelargoniums are very easy to grow from seed. Geraniums often need a cold period, of about three months, followed by warmer temperatures, before they will germinate. Pelargonium seed, as sold commercially, is usually treated with concentrated sulfuric acid to break the physical dormancy of the seeds. Home gardeners can try pouring very hot water (just off boiling) onto Pelargonium seeds, and letting them soak for several hours. This seems to work for most of them.

Whatever treatment is used, however, germination of both Geranium and Pelargonium seed is usually erratic. Some seeds of a batch will germinate after a couple of weeks, but others may take two or three months, or even longer.

The advantages of growing Pelargoniums and Geraniums from seed are that seedlings are often more vigorous than plants from cuttings, and are generally healthier. If the parent plant is infected with a virus, then cuttings will usually also have the virus, but seedlings normally will not.

I agree that calling any plant (seed ???????) is because the plant was produced from seed,
I kind of disagree that plants from seed do make stronger plants however, Most people I know dont have the facilities for growing lots of plants from seed and therefore they increase their plant stock from cuttings, I mtself mostly grow all mt Pelargonium type Geraniums from cuttings, with great success, it is way too expensive to buy new plants in pots every year, The room for growing from seed is vast especially IF you wish to grow say a dozen different colours or leaf shape / colouring,

To propagate healthy new plants all you MUST have is a healthy parent plant, no point what-so-ever taking cuttings from a diseased plant. I normally set 6 cuttings into the one pot and after the cuttings are rooted, Pot them up into individual small pots to grow on untill they reach the size of setting outside into my containers or larger display pots. other plants I do grow from seed but these are normally Annuals that can be started outside, here in UK these seeds are started in April -May and finnish flowering end of August -September. BUT geraniums are brought back inside for winter and more cuttings are rooted. you have to take into account, climate, soil, do you want 50 plants all the same from a packet.
I could be wrong but, I would imagine in a hot country like Spain for example, Geraniums will almost germinate from self seeding where as, cooler temps, the seeds need a bit of help, room, some basic equipment and you have to weigh up the best way for you to do it BUT my point is, seeds are not necessary best way for everyone.

IF I find a colour, unusual flower or leaf, I can buy 1 single plant and grow that plant on till it's bushier, the same season I can have a dozen new healthy plants of that same single plant, so for
me, this is a far more enjoyable, cheaper method, yet I don't have all the bother of either failure of the seedlings, time it takes to monitor and care for the seedlings, potting each individual seedling on into larger pots etc not to mention the compost, trays etc.

I hope this helps give a different take on growing from seeds versus propagating from cutting, BUT both ways take practice to get it right.

Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.

Hi, I have been trying to find Pelargoniums to purchase new starts, but I don't know enough about them, besides the fact that I love them, to use the correct terminology to get the specific type of "geranium" I am asking for. If I ask for pelargoniums, I am often shown zonal geraniums and scented geraniums. The Pelargoniums I am familiar with have the large showy flowers which makes one think of azaleas and rhododendrons. And the leaves are disitinctively different from most geraniums. They are large and have a serrated edge, not the smooth rounded ones of an ivy geranium or zonal geranium.
Help! How do I ask for what I am looking for in a way that will help me get the results I want?
Are they called Martha Washington Geraniums? Pelargonium x domesticum??
Thanks! I have three and would really love more.

Yes, the ones with the fanciest flowers usually are referred to as Martha Washingtons.

Leaves are not quite round, and have quite jagged edges. They are often folded like a fan.

There are may varitietes, and they could have different leaves, too.

We have a Plant ID forum for just this sort of problem.
If you can post several pictures of the plants you have, including an overall shot of each plant, and some close ups of the leaves and flowers we can probably be more sure of where to look for more, and what to ask for.