Geranium as a garden plant

The discovery of the species for the garden geranium

The establishment of stork-billed species than Gartenzierpflanze took place in a pattern that is typical of many plant species. First, were cultured with the cabbage and the blood Ruprecht Red Geranium two species in the garden, which were seen as medicinal plants. Mainly attributed to more native species without healing, but which were Large Yellow, can be as ornamental plants as early as the 16th Century show. The native brown Cranesbill has been demonstrated already for the year 1561 in Germany as a garden plant. The Hortus Eystettensis from the year 1613 calls for him and for the blood-red geranium even first breeding forms.

With the 18 and 19 Century were added the species, which are located in remote regions. When the stork bills are above all the species that were common in the southern mountains. In the 19 Century were also special types of garden beds as rock gardens popular. The blood-red geranium was at this time to a very frequently cultivated ornamental plant.

In the 20th Century, the range was extended in the manicured garden geranium species by a few species from other continents as well as numerous cultivars to the growing demand for easy to maintain, while ornamental plants were just.

The popularity of each type is subject to still different fashions. The once very popular with his dark brown geranium flower color has now come largely out of fashion in Central Europe. In England you can find this kind of wild but still on the old village cemeteries, which are available as 'Mourning Widow' (= Grieving widow) before you planted as grave decorations.

Even the Pyrenean Cranesbill is now a rarely used type in the garden, although towards the end of the 18th Century, several forms of discipline in the trade were. He was becoming increasingly marginalized in gardens, and thus more attractive after flowered geranium species have been discovered. He is wild from the gardens and find out as yet naturalized plant hedges and in the green areas along roads.

The now common in gardens to-find Basque-Cranesbill, however, is only in the 20th century has become popular in Germany, especially after having been bred in England - where he has been planted since 1832 in the gardens - a set of robust forms and hybrids.

A more lasting value than the above three species other hand, has found the Balkan Cranesbill. From his earlier geranium oil were used for perfumes, and for the production of this essential oil are used today, however, Pelargonium spp. The Balkan Cranesbill is first mentioned in 1576 as a garden plant and has subsequently found very quickly spread. Today he is mainly a so-called "City Green" like street trees planted under, as it tolerates shade well and is not the intensely fragrant plant from rabbits and dogs away doggedly holds.
Garden Geranium hybrid (Geranium × magnificum).

One of the most common today in the garden-to-find Geranium representative is the hybrid Geranium × magnificum. When and where they flowered and vigorous variety has emerged with the purple-violet flowers, is no longer comprehensible. Because of herbaria evidence-one knows, however, that it was in 1871 maintained in the Botanical Garden of Geneva. Identified in 1961, the Swedish botanist Nyls Hylander Geranium Geranium platypetalum Ibericum and as parents of this sterile hybrid and gave the variety its scientific name. It is believed that the species originally came from the Caucasus.

Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storchschn%C3%A4bel

See Also: Sending Flowers, Online Florist