Blasts of colour will bring holiday vibes

PRETTY PELARGONIUMS EVOKE THE SUNSHINE AND THEY'LL SOON BE AT THEIR PEAK FLOWERING TIME

- DIARMUID GAVIN

STRIKING: Pelargonium Echinatum EASY CARE: Pink geraniums CHEERFUL: Purple zonal pelargonium CITRUSY: Lemon Fancy

COMMONLY known as geraniums, pelargonium is the botanical name for these ever-popular summer flowering plants.

And while they are related to hardy geraniums, pelargoniums hail from South Africa and are tender. This means unlike hardy relatives, they cannot withstand frost, and their origins mean they like sunny and well-drained soil.

Due to their tolerance for drought, they make good hanging basket dwellers. When watering, you need to let them dry out between doing so as they don't like to sit in water. They can also be grown year round in a heated conservatory or on a sunny windowsill.