The word ‘Geranium’ has been derived from the Greek word ‘geranion’ or ‘geranos’, which means a ‘crane’. It is the common name for flowers which belong to the Geraniaceae family.  This family consists of herbs and small shrubs of subtropical as well as temperate regions. Geraniums are the hybrid varieties of the South African variety which is called the Pelargonium. Geraniums are not only cultivated for decorative purpose in the home gardens or nurseries but aromatic oils can also be extracted from their leaves and flowers and they are also used in perfumes.

The Geraniums are an evergreen perennial plant which is many times used by garden lovers as bedding plants. The flowering season of the Geraniums is from summer to autumn. The flowers are usually available in single or double bloom in different variety of colors like red, salmon, white, pink and also purple. The colors of the Geranium flowers are not similar but come in different varieties. The petals are also at many times spotted or veined. In fact it seems at many times that the Geranium flowers express the emotions of the mind beautifully. The leaves of Geraniums are marbled and sprinkled with dark spots.

Though Geraniums are usually treated as a gentle plant and as the sign of a peaceful mind, they usually convey many meaning which are spoken by the geranium when presented to someone. If we give the Silver-leafed Geranium to someone it is treated as a reminder of all forgotten things. Giving Scarlet Geraniums is an act for consolation or comfort and lastly the Oak Geranium stand for true friendship. Geraniums are such flowers which cannot be done without, may it be for any occasion or just for the home garden for people who love their garden.

When the gardeners buy the geranium plant they buy it as a bud or as a plant which can be grown in the pot that are hung in the terraces or  kept in the portico in the home garden. Most of the Geranium plants are raised from cuttings as the common geranium takes about five months to grow from flower to seed. In order to get the Geranium plant from the seed, the seeds need to be sown indoors for eight to ten weeks before winter dawns. Geraniums usually survive in places where summers are dry and have cool nights but warm days. They need full sunlight for their growth but partial shade also works well for the geranium plant. The soil that is used to plant the geraniums should only be medium rich and well drained.

As there are so many varied varieties of the Geranium plant it is very difficult to choose which variety would be best suited for the beautiful landscape of the home garden. The common Geraniums are basically only sold as a bedding plant. They are very decorative and have two or three colored leaves. The Geraniums which are best for window boxes and hanging baskets are the Ivy leaved geraniums. The Geraniums that are used for making tea, potpourris and sachets is the scented geranium. People get mislead as this type of geranium has the fragrance of apple, rose, lemon nutmeg and peppermint. Though the flowers are small by adding this variety of geranium would be a lovely way to make the porch or patio of the home garden scented and finally the Mosquito geranium as the name suggests has a scent which repels insects. Apart from this Geraniums also can be given as a beautiful gift for Mothers day or Easters.