Scented Geraniums Herb

These form a group of marvelously aromatic herbs which should be used more. Originally native of South Africa, they are now widespread throughout many temperate countries, where they should be grown as tender perennials.

The generic name, Pelargonium, is said to ' be derived from 'pelargos', a stork. With a bit of imagination one can understand how this came about; the seed pods bear resemblance to a stork's bill.

Nearly all the species of scented geranium (the name is a botanical misnomer) came from the Cape of South Africa to England in the mid-17th century. The aromatic foliage found popular assent among Victorians, who used them as houseplants to scent the room. In the early 19th century the French perfumery industry recognized its commercial potential. Oil of Geranium is now not only an ingredient of certain perfumes for men, but also an essential oil in aromatherapy.

Species

There are many different scented geraniums. I am mentioning a few typical of the species that I have a soft spot for. They are a very collectable plant.

Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12-24in) spread 30cm (12in). Small pink flowers in summer. 3-lobed, mid-green leaves that smell of roses.

Pelargonium 'Atomic Snowflake'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm, (12-24in), spread 30cm (12in).Small pink flowers in summer. Intensely lemon-scented, roundish leaves with silver grey/green variegation.

Pelargonium capitatum

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12-24in) spread 30cm (12in). Small mauve flowers in summer, irregular 3-lobed green leaves, rose scented. This is now mainly used to produce geranium oil for the perfume industry.

Pelargonium chocolate peppermint

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12-24in) spread 1m {3ft). Small white/pink flowers in summer. Large, rounded, shallowly lobed leaves, velvety green with brown marking and a strong scent of chocolate peppermint. This is a last grower so pinch out growing tips to keep shape.

Pelargonium 'Clorinda'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread It (3ft). Large pink attractive flowers in summer. Large rounded leaves, mid-green and eucalyptus-scented.  

Pelargonium crispum

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread 1 60cm (12-24in). Small pink flowers in summer. Small 3-lobed leaves, green, crispy crinkled and lemon scrim Neat habit.

Pelargonium crispum 'Peach Cream'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread I 60cm (12-24in). Small pink flowers in summer. Smalls lobed leaves, green with cream and yellow variegation, crispy crinkled and peach-scented.

Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread 30- 60cm (12-24in). Small pink flowers in summer. Small 3- lobed leaves, green with cream variegation, crispy crinkled, and lemon scented.

Pelargonium denticulatum

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread 1m (3ft). Small pinky-mauve flowers in summer. Deeply cut palmate leaves, green with a lemon scent.

Pelargonium denticulatum 'Filicifolium'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Hi and spread lm (3ft). Small pink flowers in summer. Very finely indented green leaves with a line brown line running through, slightly sticky and not particularly aromatic, if anything a scent of balsam. Prone to white fly.

Pelargonium fragrans group

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Hi and spread 30cm (12in). Small white flowers in summer. Grayish green leaves, rounded with shallow lobes, and a strong scent of nutmeg/pine.

Pelargonium (Fragrans Group) 'Fragrans Variegatum'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Hi and spread 30cm (12in). Small white flowers in summer. Grayish green leaves with cream variegation, rounded with shallow lobes and a strong scent of nutmeg/pine.

Pelargonium graveolens

Rose Geranium

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht60cm-lm (24- 36in). Spread up to lm (3ft). Small pink flowers in summer. Fairly deeply cut green leaves with a rose/ peppermint scent. One of the hardier of this species, with good growth.

Pelargonium 'Lady Plymouth'

Half hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread 30- 60cm (12-24in) Small pink flowers in summer. Fairly deeply cut grayish green leaves with cream variegation and a rose/ peppermint scent.

Pelargonium 'Lemon Fancy'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12-24in), spread 30-45cm (12-18in). Smallish pink flowers in summer. Small roundish green leaves with shallow lobes and an intense lemon scent.

Pelargonium 'Lilian Pottinger'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12- 24in), spread lm (3ft). Small whitish flowers in summer. Leaves brightish green, rounded, shallowly lobed with serrated edges. Soft to touch. Mild spicy apple scent.

Pelargonium 'Mabel Grey'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 45-60cm (18-24in), spread 30-45cm (12-1 Sin). Mauve flowers with deeper veining in summer. If I have a favorite, this is it: the leaves are diamond shaped, roughly textured, mid- green and oily when rubbed and very strongly lemon-scented.

Pelargonium odoratissimum

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12- 24in) spread lm (3ft). Small white flowers in summer. Green, rounded, shallowly lobed leaves, fairly bright green in color and soft to touch, with an apple scent. Trailing habit looks good in large containers.

Pelargonium 'Prince of Orange'

Half-hardy evergreen  perennial. Ht and spread 30- 60cm (12-24in). Pretty pink/ white flowers in summer. Green, slightly crinkled, slightly lobed leaves, with a refreshing orange scent. Prone to rust.

Pelargonium quercifolium

Oak-Leafed Pelargonium

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread up to lm (3ft). Pretty pink/purple flowers in summer. Leaves oak-shaped, dark green with brown variegation, and slightly sticky. A different, spicy scent.

Pelargonium 'Royal Oak'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 38cm (15in) spread 30cm (12in). Small pink/purple flowers in summer. Oak-shaped, dark green leaves with brown variegation, slightly sticky with spicy scent. Very similar to P. quercifolium, but with a more compact habit.

Pelargonium 'Robber's Lemon Rose'

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht and spread up to l m (3ft.). Pink flowers in summer. Leaves grayish green - oddly shaped, lobed and cut - with a rose scent. A fast grower, so pinch out the growing tips to maintain shape.

Pelargonium tomentosuhi

Half-hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30-60cm (12-24in), spread lm (3ft). Small white flowers in summer. Large rounded leaves, shallow lobed, velvet grey-green in color with a strong peppermint scent. Fast grower, so pinch out growing tips to maintain shape. Protect from full sun.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed

Although I have known scented geraniums to have been grown from seed, I do not recommend this method. Cuttings are much more reliable for the majority. However, if you want to have a go, sow in spring in a peat and grit compost at a temperature no lower than 15°C (59°F).

Cuttings

All scented geraniums can be propagated by softwood cuttings which generally take very easily in the summer. Take cutting about 10-15cm (4-6in) long and strip the leaves from the lower part with a sharp knife. At all costs do not tear (he leaves off as this will cause a hole in the stem and the cutting will be susceptible to disease, such as black leg. This is a major caveat for such as Pelargonium crispum 'Variegatum'. Use a sharp knife and slice the leaf off, insert the cutting into a tray containing equal parts bark and peat. Water in and put the tray away from direct sunlight. Keep an eye on the compost, making sure it does not thoroughly dry out, but only water if absolutely necessary. The cuttings should root in 2 to 3 weeks. Pot up into separate pots containing the bark, peat, grit mix of compost. Place in a cool greenhouse or cool conservatory for the winter, keeping the compost dry and watering only very occasionally. In the spring re-pot into larger pots and water sparingly. When they start to produce flower buds give them a liquid feed. In early summer pinch out the top growing points to encourage bushy growth.

Pests and Diseases

Unfortunately pelargoniums do suffer from a few diseases.

1: Cuttings can be destroyed by blackleg virus. The cutting turns black and falls over. The main cause of this is too much water. So keep the cuttings as dry as possible after the initial watering.

2: Grey mould (botrytis) is also caused by the plants being too wet and the air too moist. Remove damaged leaves carefully so as not to spread the disease, and burn. Allow the plants to dry out, and increase ventilation and spacing between plants.

3: Leaf gall appears as a mass of small proliferated shoots at the base of a cutting or plant. Destroy the plant; otherwise it could affect other plants.

4: Geraniums, like mint and comfrey, are prone to rust. Destroy the plant or it will spread to others. 5 Whitefly. Be vigilant. Catch it early enough; you 1 will be able to control it by spraying with a liquid horticultural soap. Follow   t manufacturer's instruction!

Maintenance

Spring: Trim, slowly introduce watering, and start feeding. Re-pot if necessary,

Summer: Feed regularly. Trim to maintain shape.

Autumn: Take cuttings. Trim back plants. Bring in for that: winter to protect from frost.

Winter: Allow the plants to I rest. Keep watering to a minimum.

Garden Cultivation

Scented pelargoniums are so varied that they can look very effective grown in groups in the garden. Plant out as soon there is no danger of frost. Choose a warm site with well-drained I soil. A good method is to sink the re-potted, over wintered geraniums into the) soil. This makes sure the initial compost is correct, and makes it easier to dig up the pot and bring inside before the first frost.

Harvest

Pick leaves during the growing season, for fresh use or for drying. Collect seeds before the seed pod ripens and ripen in paper bags. If allowed to ripen on the plant, the pods will burst, scattering the seeds everywhere.

Container growing

Scented pelargoniums make marvelous pot plants. They grow well, look good, and smell lovely. Pot up as described in Propagation. Place the containers so that you can rub the leaves as yon walk past.

Culinary

Before artificial food flavorings were produced the Victorians used scented pelargonium leaves in the bottom of cake tins to flavor their sponges. Why not follow suit? When you grease and line the bottom of a 20cm (8in) sandwich tin, arrange approximately 20 leaves of either 'Lemon Fancy', 'Mabel Grey', or 'Graveolens'. Fill the tin with a sponge mix of your choice and cook as normal. Remove the leaves with the lining paper when the cake has cooled. Scented pelargonium leaves add distinctive flavor to many dishes although, like bay leaves, they are hardly ever eaten, being removed after the cooking process. The main varieties used are 'Graveolens'. 'Odoratissimum', 'Lemon Fancy' and 'Attar of Roses'.

Geranium Leaf Sorbet

12 scented Pelargonium graveolens leaves

75g/ 3oz/ 6 tablespoons caster sugar

300ml/ ½pint/1¼ cups water Juice of 1 large lemon

1 egg white

4 leaves for decoration

Wash the leaves and shake them dry. Put the sugar and water in a saucepan and boil until the sugar has dissolved, stirring occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat. Put the 12 leaves in the pan with the sugar and water, cover and leave for 20 minutes. Taste. If you want a stronger flavor bring the liquid to the boil again add some fresh leaves and leave for a further 10 minutes. When you have the right flavor, strain the syrup into a rigid container; add the lemon juice and leave to cool. Place in the freezer until semi-frozen (approximately 45 minutes) it must be firm, not mushy and fold in the beaten egg white. Put back into freezer for a further 45 minutes. Scoop into individual glass bowls, and decorate with a geranium leaf.

Rose Geranium Punch

1.2 litre/2pints/5 cups of apple juice 4 limes 2 50g/8oz/l cup sugar 6 leaves of graveolens 6 drops of green vegetable coloring (optional) Boil the apple juice and sugar and geranium leaves for 5 minutes. Strain the liquid. Cool and add coloring if required. Thinly slice and crush limes, add to the liquid. Pour onto ice in glasses and garnish with geranium leaves.

Graveolens Geranium Butter

Butter pounded with the leaves makes a delicious filling for cakes and sweet biscuits. Spread on bread and top with apple jelly.

Other uses

In Aromatherapy, Geranium oil is relaxing but uses it in small quantities. Dilute 2 drops in 2 teaspoons of soy oil for a good massage, or to relieve pre-menstrual tension, dermatitis, eczema, herpes or dry skin.