What most people think of as geraniums are those colorful flowers like the one in the picture above which are usually grown as annuals in containers along with begonias and lobelia. However there are another type of Pelargoniums which have few flowers but highly fragrant leaves. These are the ones described by Jill Nicolaus in her article which I found over on Dave’s Garden website.
If the only geraniums you’ve ever sniffed are the lovely but scentless Martha Washington Geraniums in your grandma’s windowbox, you are in for a treat! Welcome to the fragrant world of Pelargoniums.
Scented geraniums (Pelargonium graveolens) are tender perennials, hardy to about 30?F. I grow them in pots, so they can be easily brought in for the winter. Of course, if you live in zone 8 or warmer, you can enjoy them in your garden year round. With pruning, they can be kept in a six or eight inch pot, but they will grow with abandon in a pot of twelve inches or more in size. Most varieties are upright, but some have a more trailing or compact habit. They appreciate good drainage, so they do well in containers or in raised beds. They’ll grow best in full sun, but any spot with a few hours of late morning or afternoon sun will work.
These plants originate in Africa, and I had a chance to see a remarkable collection of species types at the Hortus Botanicus in Amsterdam. If you’re used to bedding geraniums, you won’t believe the size of these plants. They can grow to three feet or more in height, and the leaves of some are as large as my outstretched hand. Some of the larger varieties can be trained to a single-stem topiary form, for a striking effect. Over the years, they’ve been selected for fragrance, leaf form, plant habit, and bloom color, producing a remarkable selection of cultivars.
The variety of fragrance and foliage among scented geranium cultivars is astounding. From strong scents of lemon, rose, or mint to softer scents of spice and sweet fruit, there’s a scent to suit every nose! For pure, sweet old rose fragrance, my favorite is ?Attar of Roses’, but some prefer the pungent musk of ?Skeleton Rose’, with its intricate leaves. Several varieties have pungent lemon scents, with slight variations. ?Citronella’ and ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’ smell just as you’d expect, while ?Lady Grey’ has a bright citrus smell like Lemon Pledge™. ?Chocolate Mint’ and ?Peppermint Rose’ both have a clean minty fragrance, but their foliage couldn’t be more different in shape or texture.
I am a keen gardener and so created Garden Pics and Tips for people who love gardens and enjoy great pictures of plants and gardens. Also covered are practical tips on all aspects of gardening.
