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    Home » Gardening

    Growing Scented Geraniums

    May 17, 2016 by Patti Estep 9 Comments

    Collage of scented geranium foliage
    Flowers scented geranium plant
    Lemon scented geranium in a clay pot.

    Scented geraniums are not your grandmother's large-flowering annuals. Instead, they are plants whose fragrant foliage is the star of the show. There are many different varieties and though they are not cold hardy, many grow well indoors during the winter.

    Rober's Lemon Rose geranium.
    Rober's Lemon Rose Scented Geranium

    Did you know that there are more than 100 varieties of scented geraniums in with interesting varieties such as mint, rose, apple, apricot, nutmeg, lemon, orange, lime, ginger, cinnamon, and coconut?

    Zonal pink and red nursery geraniums.
    zonal geraniums

    Nursery Zonal Geraniums

    These are the mass-produced geraniums you see in every garden center in the spring. These geraniums, also known as zonal geraniums, display a beautiful array of flowers in many colors but are not fragrant.

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    Geranium cinereum ‘Ballerina’
    Perennial Geranium cinereum ‘Ballerina’

    Perennial Geraniums

    A true geranium, though related, is a hardy perennial (shown above) and it's a totally different plant. Another pretty cottage-like flowering plant, however, it is also not fragrant. You can read more about hardy perennial geraniums here.

    Citronella plant

    Pelargonium - Scented Geraniums

    You may be familiar with a scented geranium known as the mosquito plant or Pelargonium citrosum. This plant can usually be found at most big box stores and nurseries in the summer. Some claim it wards off pests but in reality, it does not contain citronella oil; it just has a citronella-like scent.

    Scented geranium leaves in pan to make cake.

    Scented geraniums are prized more for their leaves and produce small delicate flowers. Both the flowers and leaves are edible. A common use in cooking is making a scented geranium pound cake lining the pan with scented geranium leaves. Another is making scented geranium sugar by layering the leaves in a jar of sugar. After a week or so you will have scented sugar to use as you wish.

    Scented geranium plant

    Growing Scented Geraniums

    Scented geraniums are native to South Africa and are considered tender perennials hardy only to zones 9-11. This means you need to bring them in during the winter if you live in a colder climate.

    Place them in a sunny window and water well once a week. In late spring start acclimating them to the outdoors again by gradually leaving them outside for a few hours during the day and bring them back inside at night. Increase the amount of time daily until the nighttime temperature reach over 50 degrees.

    Rose scented geranium branches.
    Rose Scented Geranium

    Scented geraniums are known to get leggy and should be pinched back to encourage a bushy shape.

    Scented geranium leaves in a glass of water growing roots.

    Propagating Scented Geraniums

    Take cuttings and root them in water. They respond extremely well to this process. In about a week or two you will have well-established roots that you can plant and enjoy or share with friends.

    Lemon scented geranium in a pot.
    Lemon Scented Geranium

    I've read that they can be trained as a standard. I think that would be beautiful and may even try training one myself. In the meantime, I enjoy rubbing the leaves as I walk by and enjoying their wonderful scent.

    Patti signature

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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Denise

      May 16, 2017 at 3:04 pm

      I've just moved to Oregon from Santa Barbara. I had a garden full of scented geraniums! Where do I get them up here?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 16, 2017 at 4:15 pm

        Hi Denise,

        Many nurseries carry them. You can also buy them online. Here are two options.
        https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=scented+geranium+plants

        http://www.logees.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=scented+geraniums

        Hope that helps,
        Patti

        Reply
    2. Karen

      May 18, 2016 at 7:37 am

      I always love learning new things when I visit you! Scented geraniums are a plant I've never had experience with, and I love the idea of strong-scented plants. Gardenias are our most popular here. I'd love to add something a little different - I'm going to check these out!
      Thanks for the great tips and information you always share.

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        May 18, 2016 at 8:52 pm

        Thanks Karen, you will start to love them and they can easily be ordered online if you can't find any nearby.
        They may last outside all year long in your neck of the woods.
        Patti

        Reply
    3. Lisa

      March 22, 2015 at 8:36 am

      I forgot all about these sweet delicate flowers! These would be a great plant to introduce to my daughter's Girl Scout troop. ...might plant a "gardening seed" in their pretty little heads! Thanks for the idea.

      Reply
    4. Dorothy

      March 18, 2015 at 1:16 am

      Could you explain how to pinch back geraniums. My seem to ramble all over the place.

      Reply
      • Patti

        March 18, 2015 at 6:38 am

        Hi Dorothy,

        Sure. All I do is pinch with my fingers or cut with scissors etc.. just above the area where a leaf stem is growing. The plant should branch out from there. So if you have a large plant you cut back as much as you want, maybe one third, making your cut above that leaf node. Then if you want you root the cuttings in water or in a soilless mix and then you'll have more to grow or give away.
        Let me know if that answers your question or you need more information and have a great day.
        Patti

        Reply
    5. Jill

      March 17, 2015 at 9:18 am

      Happy Almost Spring! Thanks for helping me think about my porch pots with the scented geraniums. I just saw an article on the perils of gardening. Maybe you could do something that shows the health benefits and how to be safe. Maybe a great way to go viral! Have a great day!

      Reply
      • Patti

        March 17, 2015 at 9:45 am

        Hi Jill,
        Happy Spring to you! The warmer weather is finally here!!
        I love your health and safety idea.
        I'll add it to my schedule.
        Have a great day and thanks, as always for your lovely comments!
        Patti

        Reply

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