Scented geraniums’ lovely scent should be all around you. These fragrant plants, which belong to the genus Pelargonium, are relatives of the common garden geranium. Numerous fragrant geraniums are heirloom plants that have endured over time because of gardeners who took cuttings and shared the fragrant offspring. Like other fragrant geraniums, rose geranium produces fragrant oils in its leaves. Scented geraniums are attractive flowers that are simple to grow. Green, blue-green, and variegated tones can all be seen in the leaves as they unfold. Give plants a position in full sun, fertile soil, and well-drained soil. Provide protection from the harsh afternoon sun in southern locations.
Temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for scented geranium growth. Plants are stressed by higher temperatures, so when the summer heat comes, be sure to give them enough moisture.
Grow aromatic geraniums in pots or garden beds, such as rose geranium. Due to their lack of winter hardiness, most gardeners plant these aromatic beauties as annuals. Use a commercial soil-free planting mix designed for use in pots if you’re growing fragrant geraniums in them. These mixtures offer the superior drainage that fragrant geraniums require.
It is simple to overwinter these fragrant plants, either in containers or by using cuttings. Give potted scented geraniums a place next to a light east or south window for the optimum growth if you move them indoors for the winter. Inside, plants will slenderize. Trim them as necessary to control growth.
Another method for preserving scented geraniums through the winter is to take cuttings. Cuttings of scented geraniums are more prone to decay than other geraniums from the Pelargonium genus. Cuttings should be dipped in a mixture of 2 tablespoons of home bleach and 4 drops of liquid dish soap in 2 quarts of water to avoid this. Cuttings should be let to dry overnight before planting the following day.
Scented geraniums are adaptable indoor plants. You can use fresh leaves in the kitchen or dry them out to make potpourri. Chopping fragrant geranium leaves fresh to add to cookie or cake mixes is a typical kitchen usage. Or use full leaves to line a cake pan before adding batter and baking. Slice the leaves off the bottom of the cake after baking, or leave them on and enjoy the crunchy bite. A tasty sweetener is made by layering whole perfumed geranium leaves with sugar.
Native to South Africa, scented geraniums are from the Cape of Good Hope. Scented geraniums, such as rose geranium, gained to popularity as perfume ingredients in the 1700s. In place of pricey rose attar in perfume, the rose geranium Pelargonium capitatum, sometimes known as Attar of Roses, was utilized.
In Kenya, which was then owned by the British, rose geranium farms started to appear. Although the geraniums are grown in Egypt, China, and India, rose geranium oil is still used today to substitute expensive rose attar in perfumes. 2.5 pounds of rose essence are produced from one ton of rose geranium leaves.
Scented geraniums are tolerant of how much cold?
Given that pelargoniums are indigenous to South Africa, it is not unexpected that they cannot withstand extremely cold temperatures, let alone icy winters.
Only the U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10 and 11 are suitable for growing scented geraniums in the winter.
In other zones, their main protection from frost damage is overwintering techniques.
Having said that, geraniums like a minimum temperature of about 19 degrees Fahrenheit. This does not imply that the plant won’t suffer harm at this temperature, but rather that the harm from the cold might only be slight.
Your pelargoniums should typically be prepared for overwintering when the fall evening lows begin to fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
Placing potted geranium in cool storage
What you must do if you have decided to use the cool storage overwintering approach is as follows:
- Find an area where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing for your geraniums (garage, basement, shed, cellar, etc.). It ought to be a cool location.
- Trim the plant back by a third to a half, and take out any sick or damaged areas.
- deeply wet, then put in storage
- During the winter, water sparingly and inspect the plant for illness symptoms.
Placing bare root geranium in cool storage
Similar to the last example, you can also overwinter scented geraniums in cool storage by placing them in an unheated area where the temperature doesn’t drop below freezing, but this time you won’t be using pots or soil.
What you must do is as follows:
- Remove the plant from its container and clean the roots’ dirt.
- After letting the plant dry naturally for a few days, wrap it in paper, newspaper, or cardboard and set it on a shelf.
- Every month, bathe the plants for one to two hours in warm water.
- Let dry a little before putting back in storage.
The geranium should be kept dry and away from moisture, which would encourage mold. Never let it dry up entirely though. The plant can be kept alive by giving it a monthly watering.
Are fragrant geraniums winter-resistant?
Enjoy the lemon, rose, apple, peppermint, or pine smell by gently petioling the leaves. Place the plants in locations where you can easily pat them to release and appreciate the aroma or brush past the leaves to do so.
These plants are cultivated for their fragrant leaves, but they also yield lovely flowers that are less conspicuous than the common bedding geranium. Although the majority of gardeners call them geraniums, both are actually Pelargoniums.
When there are no frost warnings, grow these as indoor plants in a sunny window or in a sunny spot outside. In zones 10 and 11, scented geraniums are hardy, but in the majority of places, they need to be brought indoors for the winter.
For optimal results, grow plants inside in high-quality potting soil or outdoors in well-drained soil. Pinch back the stalks as necessary and remove the faded blossoms.
Additional details: Take cuttings from healthy plants and start new ones. Take a 4-inch section of the leafy stem, cut off the blossoms, and then root it. Use cuttings from your plant’s back pruning, or alternatively. Listen to my audio tip on Starting Plants from Cuttings for more information.
Do fragrant geraniums reappear every year?
“The phrase “scented geranium” is a general name for Pelargonium species with fragrant leaves and/or flowers.
Compared to garden geraniums, these species and cultivars often have smaller leaves and blooms (P. x hortorum).
For example, in the image below, the plant on the right is a zonal geranium, whereas the plant on the left is a “geranium with a lemon scent.
These plants have glands that produce the fragrant oil. The oils are produced when the leaves are crushed or otherwise disturbed, giving off a sweet perfume.
Although perennial in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and 11, scented geraniums are typically planted as annuals.
You can bring your magnificent plants indoors for the winter if you don’t live in one of these places and don’t want to toss them on the compost pile every year.
Naturally, scented geraniums can’t tolerate much cold, but some plants, especially the smaller-leaved variety, can tolerate temperatures as low as Zone 8.
Some can flourish in Zone 12. In Zone 8, plants often die back to the ground in the winter and emerge again in the spring.
A Note of Caution:
Dogs and cats are poisoned by all Pelargonium species. Any portion can cause ataxia, depression, and hypothermia in big dosages and vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea in pets when consumed in modest levels.
Can geraniums survive the cold outdoors?
If given the proper care, geraniums can survive the winter. Geraniums are notoriously difficult for gardeners to overwinter.
What distinguishes scented geraniums from regular geraniums?
Scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.), which are herbaceous perennials native to South Africa and grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 8 through 11, release potent fragrances from their leaves. The over 200 officially recognized cultivars are divided into groups based on their scents. Compared to real geraniums, scented geranium blossoms are smaller and lack aroma. Many fragrant geraniums give food, sugar, syrup, and hot tea flavor.
Can geraniums recover after a freeze?
The geranium will keep any uninjured leaves and stems if the weather improves after a frost or freeze in the garden. Depending on the weather, it may start to develop again from the tip of the stem or go dormant until the right amount of warmth returns in the spring. Frost-killed leaves and stems turn black and dry, however there may be some rotting of soft stem tissue where dead tissue meets living, moist tissue.
- Geranium plants cannot be subjected to frosts in order to be permanently evergreen, remaining alive with all of their leaves and stems.
- When air temperatures dip and stay between 25 and 28 degrees Fahrenheit, plants can suffer significant damage or even die. The geranium will keep any uninjured leaves and stems if the weather improves after a frost or freeze in the garden.
Can fragrant geraniums be grown inside?
The care of scented geraniums is quite simple. They can be grown in the ground, in containers, or both indoors and outdoors. Although they may require some protection when the sun is at its hottest, they prefer lots of sun. They don’t care much about the type of soil, but they don’t enjoy wet feet.
While they are actively growing, fertilize them softly and sparingly. The main drawback of scented geraniums is that they have a propensity to grow lanky and require trimming to encourage bushiness. Overfertilization just makes this issue worse.
However, don’t discard those trimmings. Cuttings of scented geranium can be simply grown to replace older plants or to make thoughtful gifts for friends. You could wish to use plants that you’ve grown from cuttings to line a sidewalk or path. Grow scented geraniums where they will be handled, whether in pots or the ground, as the leaves need to be brushed or crushed to release the fragrance oils.
Dig up your plants for indoor use or collect cuttings for winter growth before the first fall frost. Geraniums with a fragrant scent thrive in similar conditions to those outside. Maintain them in a sunny window, give them regular waterings, and apply very little fertilizer.
It’s amazing that every gardener doesn’t have at least one scented geranium because caring for them is so simple both inside and out. They make the ideal plant for a balcony or patio. They are edible in addition to providing fragrant leaves, gorgeous blossoms, and exquisite fragrances. The aromatherapy is free to use and the leaves can be used to flavor drinks, jellies, or baked foods. So ignore the roses. Observe the perfumed geranium and take a whiff.
Reduce the number of scented geraniums?
Pruning fragrant geraniums Never hesitate to cut back a plant if it becomes too big. The optimal time to prune is in the spring because the plants will have more time to develop buds and blossoms. However, large plants can tolerate some pruning at any time of year. Trimmings can always be rooted.
How can I tell if my geranium is a perennial or annual plant?
Are geraniums perennial or annual plants? Are you one of those customers at the garden center who has to pause and clarify the difference between an annual and a perennial? Unless gardening is our one and only true love, the truth is that we have all likely experienced it at some point.
A seasonal plant dies after going through one life cycle. A perennial plant endures for at least two years. Depending on where and how they are grown, geraniums can be either annuals or perennials.
The Latin term for geranium is pelargonium. These plants are typically grown as annuals since they cannot endure cold. However, they can be grown as perennials with a few simple techniques. In the following sections of this post, let us share a few of those tips with you.
What can you make of fragrant geranium leaves?
You can grow roses, gardenias, heliotropes, or hyacinths in your garden if you’re gardening for smell. Additionally, try some scented geraniums or grow some in pots to enjoy indoors. These attractive plants, which are linked to ordinary garden geraniums, have aromatic scents that can be strong or delicate.
The genus Pelargonium, which includes scented geraniums, has been around since the 1600s, when Dutch sailors took them back to their gardens after finding them growing wild in South Africa. The plants were once again in motion by the late 1700s and had gained popularity in both America and Europe.
They gained popularity because they were, and still are, simple and enjoyable to maintain, but over time, contemporary hybrids with large, striking blooms took the place of their delicate hues and typically modest blossoms.
Nowadays, you can get scented geraniums with green, bluish-green, gray-green, or variegated foliage in white, pink, red, and lavender. Interestingly, the leaves, which contain aromatic oils, are where their smell originates.
The plants are regaining popularity because of their enormous diversity of scents. You can choose between sweet cultivars that smell like chocolate and violets or fruity varieties that smell like apples, lemons, limes, and oranges. Peppermint, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg, or pine are the common scents of spicy pelargoniums. As long as the leaves have never been cultivated or treated with chemicals, rose-scented geranium leaves can be used to flavor cakes and other meals.
Many scented geraniums are good for growing in containers and can withstand dry soil. When watering, thoroughly soak the plant and drain any extra liquid. After that, wait a little while before watering the soil once again. Use a planting medium that drains well because the plants dislike having wet feet.
Scented Geranium ‘Apricot’
The upright growth habit and delicious scent of the pelargonium “Apricot” make it the perfect plant for pots.
In Southern climes, especially, scented geraniums may require protection from the hot afternoon sun. They prefer full sun. Take cuttings or bring your potted plants inside for the winter before it becomes too cold outside. Give them a well-lit exposure; otherwise, they can slant toward the light and begin to appear leggy. Till spring, apply very little, if any, fertilizer; after that, only lightly feed. Legginess can also result from over feeding.
With the lengthening of the days, buds will begin to form. Once your plants begin to develop actively, you might want to cut or pinch them back to keep them bushy and shrubby, but hold off until the flowers are finished. In the late October, stop trimming and pinching.
Pests and diseases rarely affect scented geraniums. Depending on where your plants are growing, use a product designated for indoor or outdoor usage and follow the advice if you do notice common pests like aphids or whiteflies.
Are you ready for more scented flowers? Scented geraniums are challenging to raise from seed (and hybridized types won’t always produce offspring that resemble the parent plant). Cuttings make it simpler to recreate them. Cut a stem that is 3 to 4 inches long with a sharp knife. Insert the cutting into a mixture of sand and perlite after stripping off the leaves about an inch from the bottom of the cutting. Till roots grow, keep the cutting wet but not waterlogged. After that, you can transplant it into a 4″ container with standard potting soil. Move the potted cutting into the garden or a bigger pot once it has a robust root system and the weather is consistently warm.