Add Easy Color To Any Landscape or Container Throughout the Summer!
Annual geraniums have long been planted in gardens throughout North America to add color and brighten up the landscape. The flowers of geraniums are easily recognizable to many people – their large round blooms sit atop unique foliage that comes in many different leaf shapes and textures. Geraniums have been bred for dozens of different flower colors and shades, but the number one color of all time has always been the classic red.
A Bit of History about Geranium Breeding
In the 1980s and 1990s, most geraniums were hybrids of Pelargonium zonale (now cultivated as Pelargonium x hortorum). Pelargonium is a large genus that includes many different species with unique flower shapes, habits, and growing characteristics.
In the 2000s, a discovery happened when breeder Mitch Hanes crossed different Pelargonium species and developed the first interspecific Calliope geranium. This breeding breakthrough combined the best qualities of each species and was the catalyst for revolutionizing the geranium market. Today, Calliope geraniums are a top seller at garden centers and consumers come back each year to find their favorite one because they are such great garden performers.
Calliope® Medium Dark Red
In 2017, Calliope® Medium Dark Red was named a National AAS Winner, earning this award after achieving high marks in trial gardens throughout North America. Calliope Medium Dark Red is recognizable for its intense velvet dark red flowers, continuous flowering all summer long, and excellent landscape performance. For the gardener, this variety is a standout wherever it is planted – on the patio or in the ground. Since Calliope was created with interspecific breeding, plants have lots of branches (meaning more flowers) and prolific flowering all season.
Calliope Medium Dark Red can be planted by itself to showcase the mass of intense flower color. Another option is to mix the dark red flowers with other geraniums such as Calliope Medium White Splash. Calliopes come in a range of beautiful flower colors giving an opportunity to use your imagination to mix and match. Designing combos with different geraniums (called a monoculture combination) is a great way to create something unique and is sure to add a pop of interest to your garden.
Geranium Summer Care Tips
In order to keep geraniums looking great all summer, make sure to fertilize with a liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season or add a slow-release fertilizer to the soil. Geraniums love light, so place in a location with at least 6 hours of sunshine a day. Remember to deadhead old flowers throughout the summer to help plants look fresh and to encourage more blooms.
Calliope Geranium Combinations
Below are a few combo recipes for 2-gallon (12-inch) containers to inspire your own combinations. Use the suggested 4 plants per container in the mixes outlined below.
Calliope Mix 1
- Calliope Medium Bright Rose
- Calliope Medium Pink Flame
- Calliope Medium White
Calliope Mix 2
- Calliope Medium Dark Red Green Leaf
- Calliope Medium White Splash
Calliope Mix 3
- Calliope Medium Rose Mega Splash Imp.
- Calliope Large Orange Splash
Calliope Mix 4
- Calliope Medium Bright Rose
- Calliope Medium Rose Mega Splash Imp.
- Calliope Medium Pink Flame
No matter which combinations you choose, or if you choose to go monochromatic with just one color, you are sure to have a striking pop of color in your garden by using geraniums!
AAS Winners
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