Choosing Planting

Choose an ivy-leaved geranium, the king of flower-filled balconies all summer long.

Our selection tips

Contents

Modified the Thursday 22 May 2025 by Leïla 6 min. Difficulty: Medium

When thinking of balconies overflowing with vibrant flowers under the summer sun, one plant immediately comes to mind: the Ivy-leaved Geranium. This charming Pelargonium peltatum, known by its Latin name and rightly nicknamed the “king of balconies,” transforms planters and hanging baskets into veritable floral cascades for months on end. Its vigorous growth, naturally trailing habit, and relentless flowering make it an essential ally for those dreaming of a colourful outdoor space—even without green fingers!

Easy to care for, generous in flowering, and highly versatile, Ivy-leaved Geraniums offer an incredible palette of colours. From striking reds to immaculate whites, through soft pinks and deep mauves, there’s a multitude of varieties to suit all tastes and spaces.

However, with such a rich selection, choosing can be tricky. Find the perfect Ivy-leaved Geranium for your balcony, terrace, or even windowsill with our buying guide, which reviews the key differences between varieties based on flower colour, pruning needs, flowering period, and other clever criteria you might not always consider.

Difficulty

Choosing your ivy-leaved geranium based on flower colour

The trailing geranium is a champion of chromatic diversity. Depending on the variety, it adorns balconies with an infinite range of shades, from bright red to dazzling white, including delicate pinks, deep purples, or luminous salmon tones. Here’s an overview of the main colour families to help guide your choice.

Bright red trailing geraniums

Essential for creating a warm and dynamic atmosphere, red varieties instantly illuminate terraces and balconies.

‘Ruby’ displays a deep, intense dark red, perfect for attracting all eyes.
Balcon Imperial offers a brighter, more straightforward red.
‘Moonflair Red‘ provides a classic red hue, brilliant without being aggressive, standing out against dark foliage.
‘Big 5 Red’ is the most vigorous on the market, with vermilion red flowers.

These red-flowered varieties pair perfectly with dark green foliage or other warm-toned flowers and foliage for very sunny compositions.

Pink trailing geraniums

From pale pink to deep rose, this colour brings softness or elegance depending on the chosen shade.

‘Balcon Lila’ charms with its soft, delicate lilac pink.
‘Big 5 Light Pink’ offers a very fresh light pink, ideal for romantic settings.
‘Rainbow Neon Purple’ displays a fuchsia pink, bold and very vibrant, perfect for energising pastel compositions.
‘Desrumeaux’ offers single, elegant flowers, bright pink with a white eye.
‘Big 5 Amethyst’ is adorned with slightly bluish-pink flowers, a beautiful mauve-like shade.

These varieties are perfect for playing the refinement or tenderness card, depending on the desired effect.

Pure white trailing geraniums

White evokes freshness and purity, complementing all surrounding hues for luminous balconies.

‘Blanche Roche‘ presents a dazzling white, with a touch of red at the stamen.
‘Moonflair White’ offers white flowers with pink stamen that contrast beautifully with its dark green foliage.
‘Ville de Dresden’ stands out with abundant flowering of white touched with pale pink at the centre.
‘Rainbow White‘ provides pure white flowers adorned with a lovely red pattern at the heart.

White is ideal for creating sober compositions or lightening plantings with very saturated tones.

Violet, lavender and mauve trailing geraniums

For those seeking original and elegant colours, violet and mauve tones are perfect.

‘Amelit‘ is an old variety with dark mauve flowering, very refined.
‘Happy Face Amethyst‘ plays on a soft, luminous lavender shade.
‘Royal Blue‘ displays a purplish violet-pink.
‘Tommy‘ offers a bordeaux violet wine colour, perfect for sophisticated associations.

These tones add much depth to summer hanging baskets and containers.

Orange and salmon trailing geraniums

Energetic and warm, orange and salmon tones enliven balconies while adding an exotic touch.

‘Apricot Salmon Orange‘ displays a dark salmon tone, coral orange-pink, very luminous.
‘Single Orange‘ presents a superb pure orange.

These colours are ideal for giving your compositions energy while remaining in natural harmonies.

Bicolour trailing geraniums

For those who love surprises and plays of shades.

‘Mexica Tomcat’: white flowers striate and edged with dark purple, offering a striking contrast.
‘Rouletta’: red flowers with white centres, gathered in round clusters on a trailing and well-ramified plant.

These bicolour varieties are perfect for creating visual movement effortlessly.

Our tip: also think about harmonising your geraniums’ colour with that of your pots, garden furniture or walls for an even more stunning effect.

Choosing your ivy-leaved geranium based on flower shape

Beyond colours, ivy-leaved geraniums also stand out for the shape of their flowers. Some varieties feature single flowers, others semi-double or double. This aesthetic detail not only influences the plant’s appearance but sometimes also its flowering abundance.

Ivy-leaved geraniums with single flowers

Single flowers typically have five distinct petals, light and airy. They give ivy-leaved geraniums a natural and elegant look.

‘Rainbow Red‘ and ‘Rainbow White’ are perfect examples of floriferous geraniums with single flowers and a spectacular trailing habit.
‘Rainbow Pink Light‘, ‘Rainbow Amethyst‘, ‘Noa‘ also offer beautiful single flowers, perfect for creating delicate cascades.

Single flowers charm with their generous flowering and ability to withstand summer heat.

Ivy-leaved geraniums with semi-double flowers

Semi-double flowers have more than five petals but remain visually light. They give a more sophisticated look without weighing down the plant.

‘Amelit’ offers semi-double flowering in very refined mauve tones.
In the Big 5 series, ‘Amethyst’ and ‘Light Pink’ combine a generous habit with delicately coloured semi-double flowers.
‘Mexica Tomcat’ also features lovely semi-double flowers, very original with their contrasting colours.

Semi-doubles are an excellent compromise for those who want both volume and lightness.

Ivy-leaved geraniums with double flowers

Double flowers are fuller, with numerous petals, creating a miniature rose effect. They offer a very dense and generous display.

‘Big 5 Neon Pink’, ‘Big 5 Red’ or ‘Apricot Salmon Orange’ perfectly illustrate this category with their abundant and spectacular flowers.
‘Blanche Roche’ is also famous for its double clusters of brilliant white.

Double flowers create a strong visual impact on a balcony, though they can sometimes be slightly more sensitive to heavy rain.

three varieties of ivy-leaved geranium with single, semi-double and double flowers

Ivy-leaved geranium with single flowers ‘Balcon Lilas’, semi-double ‘Rouletta’ and double ‘Blanche Roche’

Choosing Your Ivy-Leaved Geranium Based on Habit and Size

Not all trailing geraniums have the same vigour or habit. Depending on the space you have available and the desired effect, choosing the right variety can make all the difference. Some form long flowering cascades, while others remain more compact and bushy.

Compact trailing geranium varieties

These geraniums remain relatively low and dense, measuring about 20 to 35 cm in height, with moderate spread (30 to 50 cm). They are perfect for small planters, discreet hanging baskets or creating flowering borders without excessive overflow.

‘Rocky‘ forms small, regular, well-ramified cushions.
The Royal series with ‘Brillant Red’, ‘Royal Blue’, ‘Royal Single Orange’ also display a dense and fairly compact habit, while offering a beautiful mass of flowers.

These varieties are ideal if you’re looking for a neat, structured and easy-to-manage result.

Highly trailing geranium varieties

For a true flowering curtain effect, the very trailing varieties are essential. They develop long flexible stems that can reach 60 to 80 cm in length, or even more by the end of the season. They are ideal for large hanging baskets, covering railings, or trained against a wall.

‘Tommy’, ‘Ruby’ or ‘Noa’ produce spectacular cascades of vibrant flowers.

Semi-trailing geranium varieties

Between compactness and trailing, other trailing geranium varieties reach about 30 to 40 cm in height with a spread that can exceed 50 cm. They form pretty flowering cushions that begin to spread without becoming invasive. They work very well in large balcony planters.

Tip: play with dimensions for a spectacular effect

To create a truly lively and structured balcony, consider combining several habit types in the same composition. Place compact varieties in the centre of the planter, surround them with semi-trailing ones, then let very trailing varieties spill over the edges. This play on volumes will create a veritable flowering scene, full of movement and balance.