Faye Brawner. Geraniums: The Complete Encyclopedia. Schiffer Publishing Co. 2003.

Geraniums: The Complete Encyclopedia is the best book on this plant genus. It focuses on a common garden plant. The book presents information likely to have gardeners searching for new sources of this plant. The information presented is top quality and it broadens the gardener's understanding of the plant.

First, let me clarify the use of the term "Geranium" in the title. Those of us that are purists know that the author is really discussing "Pelargoniums, the proper scientific name for the garden plant commonly called a geranium in North America. Faye Brawner begins her introduction by explaining that geraniums and pelargoniums belong to the Geraniaceae plant family. True geraniums are hardy perennials in North America while pelargoniums are succulents generally hardy only in Southern Africa. Obviously, the author chose to use the common name for Pelargoniums in her title simply because most gardeners only know that name.

Zonal Pelargoniums are covered in the first two chapters. This is appropriate because these are the plants most gardeners are familiar with. These come in sizes ranging from very large plants suitable for growing in the garden to tiny dwarfs or miniatures best grown on your windowsill or in a window box. Detailed information is presented on the history of these plants - typical home gardeners may find this a bit boring. The illustrations of the many petal styles available to you will cause you to at least read the material accompanying these photographs!

You may find some geraniums called "fancy leafed" at your nursery. These plants have interesting foliage that differs from the traditional zonal hybrids. There are also many geraniums with unusual flower types. The flower may be referred to as "new life," "uniques", "bird's egg" and other equally unusual types. Unfortunately, most of these unique flower types will only be found at specialty nurseries rather than your every day garden center. The time it takes to search them out is well worth it though, particularly if you live in a climate where they can grow in ground throughout the year. Generally, these special foliage or flower style plants are more costly that the zonal geraniums.

The next few chapters discuss "stellar and Formosum hybrids, regals, angels, and the ivy leaf pelargoniums. The regals and ivy leafed varieties are found at many garden centers today. If you are fortunate, you may find the stellar varieties too. Even gardeners that focus just on food plants are familiar with many of the "scented leaf pelargoniums. These chapters will significantly broaden your knowledge of this fascinating plant genus. The pictures are almost guaranteed to make you begin the search for these plants so you can grow them in your garden or on your windowsill.

I particularly enjoyed the author's presentation on the species plants because these are the plants that were hybridized to create the many varieties available to gardeners today. Unfortunately, the only way to acquire many of these plants is to join a geranium society so you have access to seed banks. Very few of these species are readily available from the private seed companies.

Faye Brawner spends six chapters discussing propagation, pots and potting soils, food (fertilizer) and water, general culture, and diseases of Pelargoniums. A careful reading of these chapters should encourage you to use these plants more freely in your gardens. With just a little care and attention to their needs, they will reward you with a season of abundant flowers.

Recommendation

I give this book my highest recommendation. There is something for every gardener - outdoor, greenhouse, or windowsill. Faye Brawner is well known among geranium enthusiasts for her attention to proper identification of species plants and the quality of her research on the many cultivars available. I must warn you though, buying this book may cause you to join the International Geranium Society and build a greenhouse to house your collection of these plants. Don't say I didn't warn you!