How to Identify Reblooming Varieties of Geraniums

Geraniums have long been a favorite among gardeners due to their vibrant colors, ease of care, and versatility in various garden settings. While many geranium varieties bloom once during the growing season, reblooming geraniums offer a special appeal: they can flower multiple times throughout the year. This continuous or repeated blooming can provide prolonged color and interest in your garden. If you’re looking to cultivate geraniums that keep producing flowers over an extended period, it’s important to know how to identify the reblooming varieties. This article will guide you through understanding what makes some geraniums rebloom, provide key characteristics to look for, and suggest tips for selecting and nurturing these delightful plants.

Understanding Geraniums and Reblooming

Geraniums belong to the genus Pelargonium, a large group of flowering plants that are often grouped under the common name “geranium.” True geraniums are hardy perennials that typically bloom once in spring or early summer, while most of the popular garden geraniums grown as annuals or houseplants fall under Pelargonium species.

Reblooming geraniums are varieties or cultivars bred or naturally inclined to flower multiple times during the growing season. Rather than blooming just once and then fading away, these plants enter cycles of bloom, rest, and repeat—giving gardeners a longer display of flowers.

Why Choose Reblooming Geraniums?

• Extended flowering period: Rebloomers provide color well into late summer and sometimes through fall.
• Increased garden interest: Their repeated blooms help maintain consistent visual appeal.
• Better value: Since they bloom multiple times, they often give more bang for your buck compared to single-bloom varieties.
• Ideal for containers: In patio pots or window boxes, rebloomers keep your outdoor spaces lively for longer.

Characteristics of Reblooming Geranium Varieties

Identifying reblooming geraniums involves looking at several traits related to their genetics, morphology (physical form), and growth habits. Here are common characteristics to help you recognize them.

1. Continuous or Repeat Blooming Habit

The most obvious indicator is the flowering cycle. Reblooming geraniums tend to produce flowers in waves throughout the growing season rather than a single flush. This trait is usually bred into specific cultivars and can be verified by:

• Monitoring blooming periods over time.
• Noticing flower buds emerging after initial blooms fade.
• Checking plant labels or nursery information indicating “reblooming,” “everblooming,” or “repeat bloomer.”

2. Flower Bud Formation on New Growth

Rebloomers often produce flower buds not just on old wood (mature stems) but also on new shoots and growth points. If you observe clusters of buds forming on fresh stems after pruning or after initial blooming, this hints toward reblooming capacity.

3. Genetic Lineage and Cultivar Names

Certain cultivars have been specifically developed for their repeat blooming ability. Knowing cultivar names linked with rebloomers helps narrow down plant selection. For example:

• ‘Calliope’ series – Known for robust reblooming habits with large flower clusters.
• ‘Vancouver Centennial’ – A hardy, reblooming zonal geranium.
• ‘Citronella’ – Often cited as a scented pelargonium with repeat blooms.

Consult trusted gardening catalogs and references that specify whether a variety is reblooming.

4. Growth Habit and Plant Vigor

Reblooming varieties tend to be vigorous growers since they need energy reserves for multiple flowering cycles. They may have:

• Strong branching patterns that support continuous bud sites.
• Robust foliage that sustains photosynthesis throughout longer seasons.

Healthy leaf production with minimal dieback signals good potential for rebloom.

5. Response to Pruning

A key cultural practice linked with rebloomers is pruning or deadheading spent flowers to encourage new blooms. If a geranium readily produces new flower buds after trimming, it likely belongs to a reblooming type.

Tips for Selecting Reblooming Geraniums

If you want to add reblooming geraniums to your garden or containers, consider these helpful tips:

Check Plant Labels and Descriptions

When purchasing from nurseries or online sellers, look specifically for terms like:

• Everblooming
• Reblooming
• Repeat-flowering
• Long-blooming

These keywords typically indicate varieties that have been selected or bred for extended flowering.

Ask Experienced Gardeners or Nursery Staff

Local experts often know which varieties perform best in your area with repeated blooms—especially valuable because some types may only rebloom reliably under certain climate conditions.

Opt for Proven Cultivars

Some cultivars are consistently recommended due to their strong rebloom performance:

• ‘Calliope Red’ – Produces large bright red blooms multiple times per season.
• ‘Apple Blossom’ – Delicate pink flowers that keep returning.
• ‘Tango’ series – Compact plants with prolific flowering.

Choosing varieties with documented success ensures better chances of enjoying repeat blooms.

Cultivation Practices That Encourage Reblooming

Even if you’ve selected a true rebloomer variety, proper care greatly influences its ability to flower repeatedly.

Provide Adequate Sunlight

Most geraniums require at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily to maintain healthy growth and encourage flowering cycles. Insufficient light can lead to fewer flowers or failure to rebloom.

Fertilize Regularly But Moderately

Use balanced fertilizers with appropriate nitrogen levels—too much nitrogen encourages leafy growth at the expense of flowers. A fertilizer labeled for blooming plants applied every 4–6 weeks during the growing season supports sustained blooming.

Deadhead Spent Flowers Promptly

Removing faded blooms prevents seed formation and redirects energy toward new bud development. Consistent deadheading is crucial for maintaining the rebloom cycle.

Prune Strategically

Light pruning after each blooming phase stimulates fresh growth where new buds can form. Avoid severe cutting that stresses the plant excessively, but don’t hesitate to trim leggy stems back by about one-third at the end of bloom cycles.

Manage Water Carefully

Keep soil evenly moist but not soggy. Overwatering can cause root issues that compromise overall plant vigor and therefore reduce flowering ability.

Common Reblooming Geranium Types

While many cultivated zonal geraniums (Pelargonium × hortorum) can be bred as repeat bloomers, here are some well-known types:

Zonal Geraniums (Pelargonium × hortorum)

These classic bedding geraniums come in many varieties bred specifically for continuous flowering throughout summer into fall when cared for properly.

Examples:
– ‘Calliope’
– ‘Maverick’
– ‘Vancouver Centennial’

Ivy-Leaved Geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum)

Trailing ivy-leaved types can also be found among rebloomer selections ideal for hanging baskets and window boxes.

Scented-Leaved Geraniums (Pelargonium graveolens and others)

Some scented-leaved pelargoniums exhibit repeat blooming traits alongside interesting foliage aromas.

Seasonal Considerations: Can Geraniums Rebloom Indoors?

While outdoor conditions strongly affect geranium flowering cycles, some enthusiasts successfully grow rebloomers indoors or in greenhouses where light levels and temperature are controlled year-round.

Key considerations include:

• Providing supplemental lighting during shorter days.
• Maintaining temperatures between 65°F–75°F (18°C–24°C).
• Ensuring good air circulation and humidity balance.

Indoors, some rebloomer pelargoniums can produce flowers nearly continuously given optimal care.

Conclusion

Identifying reblooming varieties of geraniums involves understanding their flowering habits, cultivar specifics, growth characteristics, and how they respond to care practices like pruning and fertilization. Selecting plants labeled as “rebloomers” or “everbloomers,” choosing proven cultivars such as those from the Calliope series, providing optimal growing conditions including ample sunlight, regular deadheading, moderate feeding, and strategic pruning will greatly enhance your chances of enjoying prolonged bursts of colorful blossoms from these beloved garden favorites.

By investing time in selecting true reblooming geranium varieties and nurturing them properly throughout the season, gardeners can delight in vibrant displays that last well beyond the traditional one-time bloom period—making these plants an outstanding choice for brightening patios, flower beds, window boxes, or indoor spaces alike.