Choosing an ivy-leaved geranium, the king of summer-flowering balconies

Choosing your ivy-leaved geranium based on flower colour

The ivy 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, and luminous salmon tones. Here’s an overview of the main colour families to help guide your choice.

Bright red ivy geraniums

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

• ‘Ruby’ displays a deep, intense dark red, perfect for drawing all eyes.

• Balcon Imperial offers a brighter, bolder red.

• ‘Moonflair Red‘ provides a classic red hue, vibrant without being harsh, standing out against dark foliage.

• ‘Big 5 Red’ is the most vigorous on the market, with vermilion-red flowers.

These red-flowered varieties pair beautifully with dark green foliage or other warm-toned flowers and foliage for a sun-drenched composition.

Pink ivy 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 blooms.

• ‘Big 5 Light Pink’ offers a very fresh light pink, ideal for romantic settings.

• ‘Rainbow Neon Purple’ showcases a bold, vivid fuchsia pink, perfect for energising pastel compositions.

• ‘Desrumeaux’ features simple, elegant flowers in bright pink with a white eye.

• ‘Big 5 Amethyst’ boasts flowers in a slightly bluish pink, a lovely mauve-tinged shade.

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

Pure white ivy geraniums

White evokes freshness and purity, blending seamlessly with all surrounding hues for luminous balconies.

• ‘Blanche Roche‘ presents a dazzling white, with a hint of red at the stamens.

• ‘Moonflair White’ offers white flowers with pink stamens, beautifully contrasting with its dark green foliage.

• ‘Ville de Dresden’ stands out with abundant blooms in white touched with pale pink at the centre.

• ‘Rainbow White‘ features pure white flowers adorned with a pretty red pattern at the heart.

White is ideal for creating understated compositions or lightening plantings with highly saturated tones.

Violet, lavender, and mauve ivy geraniums

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

• ‘Amelit‘ is an heirloom variety with dark mauve blooms, very refined.

• ‘Happy Face Amethyst‘ plays on a soft, luminous lavender shade.

• ‘Royal Blue‘ displays a purplish rose-pink.

• ‘Tommy‘ offers a deep wine-red violet, perfect for sophisticated pairings.

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

Orange and salmon ivy geraniums

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

• ‘Apricot Salmon Orange‘ showcases a deep salmon hue, a luminous coral-orange pink.

• ‘Single Orange‘ presents a stunning pure orange.

These colours are ideal for adding vibrancy to your compositions while maintaining natural harmonies.

Bicolour ivy geraniums

For those who love surprises and subtle interplay of shades.

• ‘Mexica Tomcat’: white flowers streaked and edged with deep purple, creating a striking contrast.

• ‘Rouletta’: red flowers with a white centre, clustered in round bouquets on a trailing, well-branched plant.

These bicolour varieties are perfect for effortless visual movement.

Our tip: consider also harmonising your geranium colours with your pots, garden furniture, or walls for an even more stunning effect.

Clockwise from top left: ‘Imperial Rouge’, ‘Rainbow White’, ‘Desrumeaux’, ‘Double Apricot Salmon Orange’, ‘Mexica Tomcat’, ‘Big 5 Amethyst’

Choosing your trailing geranium based on flower shape

Beyond their colours, ivy-leaved geraniums also stand out for the shape of their flowers. Some varieties feature single flowers, others semi-double or double blooms. This aesthetic detail not only influences the plant’s appearance but sometimes also its floral 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 single-flowered geraniums, highly floriferous with a spectacular trailing habit.

• ‘Rainbow Pink Light‘, ‘Rainbow Amethyst‘, ‘Noa‘ also offer beautiful single flowers, perfect for creating light cascades.

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

Ivy-leaved geraniums with semi-double flowers

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

• ‘Amelit’ offers semi-double blooms 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 blooms.

• ‘Blanche Roche’ is also famous for its double clusters of brilliant white flowers.

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

The 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 ivy-leaved geraniums have the same vigour or growth habit. Depending on the space you have available and the desired effect, choosing the right variety can make all the difference. Some form long, cascading floral displays, while others remain more compact and bushy.

Compact ivy-leaved geranium varieties

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

• ‘Rocky‘ forms neat, well-branched little cushions.
• The Royal series, including ‘Brillant Red’, ‘Royal Blue’, and ‘Royal Single Orange’, also display a dense and fairly compact habit while offering a generous mass of flowers.

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

Highly trailing ivy-leaved geranium varieties

For a true curtain of flowers, the highly trailing varieties are a must. 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 perfect for large hanging baskets, covering railings, or training against a wall.

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

Semi-trailing ivy-leaved geranium varieties

Between compact and trailing, other ivy-leaved geranium varieties reach about 30 to 40 cm in height with a spread that can exceed 50 cm. They form lovely floral 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 different growth habits in the same arrangement. Place compact varieties in the centre of the planter, surround them with semi-trailing types, and let highly trailing varieties spill over the edges. This play on volume will create a stunning floral scene, full of movement and balance.

Ivy-leaved geraniums are renowned as superb container plants, equally at home in hanging baskets or trained against a wall, depending on their growth habit and size