When its mid-November and your geraniums are still electrifying on the porch or patio you know you are talking about one of the Boldly varieties. Boldly Coral made its debut in 2022 and as such I had the opportunity to trial it in 2021. Since then it has been my go-to geranium because of its dazzling color and incredible longevity.

Boldly Coral could have easily been called neon lipstick as the color simply commands attention. But if you noticed, I said mid-November. There was a time in my horticultural career you simply didn’t talk about geraniums after midsummer. That changed with the debut of the ivy geranium, zonal geranium cross. It was pure magic.

Looking at the long-range weather forecast for my zone 8 area of Georgia, I can predict I’ll be posting geranium photos on my Facebook page in December. I suppose the most noteworthy aspect is that these geraniums came through the summer. June would have been a sure killer of the old geranium. It was triple digit heat partnered with no rain. It has been cyclical since then, including hot August, and October without a drop of rain most days without clouds.

Today as I write this, the Boldly Coral geraniums are the picture of health. Botanically speaking these garden geraniums are known as Pelargonium interspecific hybrids. All you really have to be concerned about is picking your colors, there are 5 to choose from: Boldly Coral, Dark Red, White, Lavender Rose and Hot Pink.

They all reach about 12 inches tall with a 20-inch spread. While they have been exceptional in well-prepared landscape beds, my house with its abundance of trees dictates that I grow mostly in containers so as to position for maximum sun. Growing in containers however, with good potting soil, puts you on an easy street.

Geraniums are considered heavy feeders and are one of the areas we all need to pay attention to, particularly those grown in containers. I use a diluted water-soluble mix applied every two to three weeks. I actually use it across the board on all containers. It is a 24-12-17 blend that keeps the foliage vibrant even when heat may diminish blooming. I mix it in a 2-gallon watering bucket with a spout. Those growing in the landscape are given continuous released granules with a 15-7-15 NPK ratio, about every 4 to 6 weeks.

Geraniums also have a preferred dead heading method that does wonders for the health of your plant. It is actually NOT deadheading but the removal of spent flower stalks.

The biggest surprise to me is the butterfly activity going to the Boldly Coral geranium. We expect this with lantanas, salvias and agastache, but Cloudless sulphurs, Eastern Tiger swallowtails and Spicebush swallowtails have continued to impress and add to the beauty.

Picking out partners is fun and easy. Some of my favorites are foliage plants like ColorBlaze coleus, Lemon Coral sedum and Goldilocks lysimachia. Favorite flower partners are Diamond Snow euphorbia, Superbells calibrachoa and Supertunia petunias. Proven Winners has wonderful recipes if you visit the pages on Boldly geraniums.

Here is hoping you try your favorite colors in the new year and meanwhile follow me on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy to see if my prediction of December geraniums comes true.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)

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