Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Teresa Merelman, Broker, Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VTPhone: (802) 793-5171
Email: [email protected]

The 4 Major Types of Geranium to Know

by Teresa Merelman, Broker 01/15/2025

Geraniums are one of the most popular garden flowers in North America. They're fragrant, colorful and grow well in containers, hanging baskets and flower beds. They're easy to care for and have over 300 different species to choose from. To help you pick the best option for your garden, here are the four main types of geranium to keep in mind:

Zonal Geraniums

Zonal geraniums are the most common type grown in gardens. They grow with single or double blooms in a wide variety of colors including white, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple and burgundy. Zonal geraniums are some of the easiest to grow and thrive in many different climates. They're drought-tolerant and can be grown as perennials in regions with temperate winters.

Regal Geraniums

Regal geraniums are also called Marsha Washington geraniums. This type of geranium has large multicolored flowers compared to the smaller, single-colored zonal geraniums. Regal geraniums need cooler temperatures to thrive, and won't bloom at all in hotter weather.

Ivy Geraniums

Ivy geraniums aren't climbing vines, but trail beautifully out of containers or hanging baskets. They grow in long, cascading mounds of flowers and can grow up to three feet wide if given enough space to spread out. These geraniums love full sunlight and will bloom from early spring to the first frost when in optimal conditions.

Scented Geraniums

While you might expect the flowers of scented geraniums to be scented, it's actually their foliage. Scented geraniums have velvety textured leaves that give off pleasant scents in endless variations. Some popular scents are rose, apricot, mint and apple. Generally, you can glean the scent from the name of the cultivar, such as "Lemon Balm" or "Chocolate Mint." These geraniums don't bloom as much as other types, but their special foliage makes them a favorite among many gardeners.

About the Author
Author

Teresa Merelman, Broker

 Teresa's beginnings were at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was child #5 of 8 and born into an Air Force family that moved all over the United States but usually ended up back in the Washington, D.C. area. Teresa attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her bachelor's degree in business from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Some of her prior careers include: computer buyer in Fairfax, Virginia; Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court in Denver, Colorado; Police Officer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Bed & Breakfast owner in Stowe, Vermont. Teresa obtained her license as a Realtor® in 1998. She has been through many ups and downs in this profession and continues to learn every day. She very much enjoys the real estate profession and the wonderful people she has met and assisted along the way. In order to serve her clients and customers, Teresa continually attends classes and seminars. Some of her Designations and Certifications include: 

  • ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative (2003)
  • CBR - Certified Buyer Representative (2000)
  • e-PRO - Internet Certified Professional (2001)
  • CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist (2005)
  • CRS - Certified Residential Specialist (2005)
  • AHS - Accredited Home-Stager Specialist (2008)
  • TRC - Transaction Referral Certification (2009)
  • RSPS - Resort and Second Home Specialist (2009)
  • GREEN - NAR's Green Designation (2009) 
  • SFR - Short Sales & Foreclosures Certification (2009) 
  • SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation (2012)
  • AHWD - At Home With Diversity (2021)
  • SRS - Seller Representative Specialist (2021)

Teresa has also served and continues to serve on several boards:

  • Lamoille Area Board of Realtors - President and Board of Directors
  • Vermont Association of Realtors - Board of Directors
  • NEREN (MLS) - Board of Directors and Shareholder 
  • Vermont Real Estate Commission - as a member of VAR's Liaison Committee
  • Stowe Vibrancy - Board of Directors - this is a volunteer group that promotes activities in the Village of Stowe

In 2007, Teresa was named Vermont Realtor of the Year.Teresa and her husband, a local attorney, moved to Stowe in 1987. They had two sons and Stowe has been their home for the past 36 years. She still feels the Stowe area is a wonderful place to raise a family, there's always something going on. Teresa can often be found behind the lens of her camera documenting the beauty of the area and its many events.As an update, Teresa's older son is now a Doctor/resident at the University of New Mexico's Emergency Management Program. Her younger son graduated from James Mason University and currently resides in Chicago, IL as a supervisor for OKTA.