Scented-Leaved Pelargonium: Origin, Varieties, and Growing Tips

Like many people, my first encounters with pelargonium were under false pretenses: I was seduced by a scented pelargonium that was touted for its mosquito-repelling properties. I was talking about it to my better half, bringing the plant closer to our plates, when one of the insects it was supposed to repel landed right on it, without any embarrassment whatsoever.

My credibility took a hit.

Despite this rocky start, I became interested in scented pelargoniums. Their somewhat rough leaves, reminiscent of sandpaper, give off a powerful scent when rubbed. Their scent is so strong that when I close the curtains in the evening and they brush against my strategically placed pelargonium, the smell of lemongrass fills the entire living room!

So here’s a little article about scented-leaved pelargoniums!

Origin

The pelargonium family is well known to gardeners, even laidback ones like us! These plants are among the most widely used, particularly as annuals combining unusual foliage with abundant flowering. Perhaps you know them as “geraniums”? If you’re still confused about which name to use for the plant, delve into more than 200 years of confusion. (In the context of this article, it is indeed pelargonium that should be used.)

Pelargoniums belong to the genus Pelargonium, which is part of the Geraniaceae family (as are geraniums, incidentally). In botany, this genus is divided according to various genetic criteria, such as flower shape or number of stamens. This gives rise to various classifications, which identify between four and sixteen different subsections. There are several species of scented pelargoniums, which are classified under “Pelargonium, section Pelargonium”! How original!

In horticulture, pelargoniums are generally classified according to external characteristics, giving rise to more fanciful divisions. In this context, it is even simpler for us: pelargoniums with fragrant foliage are always in their own category. Although this classification is generally less rigorous, it is obviously the one used for the purposes of this article.

Other Categories of Pelargoniums

In horticulture, we use the following categories:

• Zonal pelargoniums: these are distinguished by their foliage marked with a “zone” of color. They are upright in habit and produce abundant flowers.
• Ivy-leaved pelargoniums: also known as “cascading geraniums,” these pelargoniums have a trailing habit and can be used in planters or as ground cover.
• Regal pelargoniums: their flowers are particularly spectacular and large.
• Scented pelargoniums: the subject of this article. Sometimes there is even a subcategory called “unique pelargoniums” to refer to scented varieties that also produce attractive flowers… but this seems a little superfluous to me.

Sometimes, two additional categories are added:

• Angel pelargonium: their two-colored flowers resemble those of violets or pansies.
• Fancy-leaf pelargoniums: these are mainly grown for their colorful, often variegated foliage. However, their flowers are also attractive. Some pelargonium hybrids, grown for their bright flowers, also have fancy foliage, so there is some overlap between the categories.

Sometimes another category is mentioned, called “hybrid,” which is reserved for exceptional cultivars that combine dense growth, abundant flowering, large flowers, particularly beautiful colors, or stunning variegated foliage. Obviously, there is a reason why pelargoniums are so popular!

Scented pelargoniums that are not hybrids created for horticultural purposes originate from South Africa. They have been cultivated for thousands of years: African tribes are believed to have used powder made from P. inquinans as a deodorant, and it is also likely that the plant was used as a seasoning or to make essential oil as far back as ancient Egypt. Their use is documented as far back as the Renaissance. Botanists began introducing the plant to Europe around the 17th century, and then began producing hybrids in the 18th century for industries such as agri-food and perfumery.

Today, different cultivars (often complex hybrids) are still used to produce essential oils such as geraniol, which is then blended with other fragrances. The composition of the essential oil derived from scented pelargoniums is complex enough that scientific research is still being conducted to try to understand it and make better use of it. Some pelargoniums are so similar to the scent of roses that their essential oil is a cheap substitute for expensive rose essence. The leaves are also used in potpourri or for cooking. In fact, once, wanting to try it, I took a big bite out of a pelargonium, and let me tell you, the rough texture of the leaves is pretty horrible!

Description

Since the category of scented pelargoniums includes several different species, there is something for everyone when it comes to shape! As a general rule, they are herbaceous plants (not covered in bark) with a rather spreading habit… but some cultivars, such as the most popular, Pelargonium ‘Citrosum’, are woody plants with an upright habit. Scented pelargoniums generally do not exceed one meter in height, and some species are chosen for their compact or dwarf habit (e.g., P. fragrans). Finally, lovers of hanging baskets will be happy to know that there are also plants with a habit that eventually becomes creeping (P. tomentosum, to name just one).

Foliage

The foliage of scented pelargoniums is soft green and can take various forms. It is often wavy (P. album, P. tomentosum), with a rough or downy texture. The leaves are sometimes indented, as in P. graveolens or P. quercifolium. While green is the dominant color, it is sometimes accompanied by purple or brown areas or irregular variegation in certain cultivars. Although not always visible, it is the hairs on the leaves that give off the intoxicating scent thanks to their aromatic glands.

Flowers

As with other pelargoniums, those with fragrant foliage bloom for several months of the year, especially in sunny conditions. While some scented pelargoniums have attractive flowers, most are not grown for this reason: their pale pink or white blooms are often inconspicuous. The small flowers have five petals and are often grouped in clusters. All of these plants are perennials and therefore survive after flowering… except for one: P. glossularioides, which is the only annual in the group!

In Terms of Smell

I was very intrigued when I saw the list of scents that pelargoniums can have. Some are not surprising: my pelargonium, which is supposed to repel mosquitoes, obviously smells like lemongrass, and this scent is not very different from the lemon scent sometimes found in certain pelargoniums grown for their flowers (it turns out that P. crispum, with its lemony scent, hybridizes very well and therefore passes on its aromatic heritage to its many offspring). We also know that the essential oil from this plant can be used to replace rose essence, so it’s easy to imagine the scent. There are also some pelargoniums whose scent is more difficult to describe: in English, we use the word “pungent,” which simply means that the leaves smell of something, and the adjectives suggest terms such as “damp” or “woody”—again, a plant with a “woody” scent does not surprise me much.

Surprising Fragrances

I am more surprised by the scents of other pelargoniums, such as those that like to imitate fruits: apple, apricot, coconut, all kinds of citrus fruits, peach, pineapple, strawberry, or raspberry! Some others think they are aromatic herbs (mint) or spices (cinnamon, ginger, and my favorite: Old Spice!), while others imagine themselves to be completely different plants (almonds, lavender, celery, pine, eucalyptus, resin—which, in my opinion, just smells sticky). Of course, the more I research, the more skeptical I become about certain scents such as absinthe, vanilla, or soda.

As with everything, it’s about finding the balance between what is true and what is said to boost sales. For all the scents mentioned above, someone praises their pelargonium for reproducing the smell – but I would wait to smell it myself before believing it 100%. Ultimately, smells are still somewhat suggestive, and I’m not sure I can distinguish a woody scent from a resin scent.

Varieties

Hybridizers have taken pleasure in offering a range of pelargoniums with varied scents, as one might expect given the astronomical number of possible fragrances. Unfortunately, this does not mean that all these plants are readily available. I myself, who am beginning to develop an excessive admiration for scented pelargoniums, have had to settle for some of the more common varieties, which will be presented here. These are the ones I was able to find in ordinary garden centers.

P. ‘Citrosum’

P. ‘Citrosum’ is vastly overrepresented in the Canadian landscape! It is a hybrid of horticultural origin, undoubtedly derived from P. graveolens (see below) and other plants. Rumor has it that the plant was crossed with true lemongrass (Cymbopogon), but this is false—the plants are very different biologically, and unfortunately, P. ‘Citrosum’ does not have the same repellent properties as Cymbopogon.

It is actually a large, fast-growing plant, easily exceeding one meter in height for well-cared-for species. The lemongrass-scented foliage can grow very large, divided into serrated lobes with a rough texture. The flowers are pink.

P. crispum

P. crispum is a cultivar that has produced numerous hybrids with a strong lemon scent. The plant is highly branched and can grow up to 80 centimeters tall (32 inches), although specimens grown indoors tend to adopt a drooping habit due to the lack of light during winter. The leaves are embossed and rather thick, while the pale pink flowers are discreet. Plants with variegated foliage are sometimes found, which are then labeled variegatum.

P. graveolens

P. graveolens has a lemon and rose scent. In some cultivars, such as ‘Attar of Rose’, the rose scent even overpowers the lemon scent. The plant grows to over a meter in height, but is still smaller than Pelargonium ‘Citrosum’. The leaves are thick and lobed, and the pink flowers have red veins. A unique form of this plant is the cultivar ‘Bontrosai’, sometimes variegated, whose leaves are particularly curled and twisted.

P. tomentosum

P. tomentosum is a pelargonium with a minty scent. It has a trailing habit and grows to a height of just over 60 cm (2 feet). However, its foliage is darker in color and its leaves are broad, velvety, and curled at the edges. It produces small, pale pink flowers sparingly. One of the most famous cultivars is ‘Chocolate Mint’, with dark green leaves edged with a brownish area, like milk chocolate. Some suggest that the leaves smell of mint and chocolate, but others, perhaps more realistically, suggest that the term chocolate refers only to the foliage and that the scent should be imagined through the minty fragrance of this two-colored pelargonium.

P. radens

P. radens is also sometimes grown indoors, particularly for its unusual cultivars. The basic species has deeply cut, vaguely triangular leaves and dark pink flowers. A striking cultivar called ‘Skeleton-Rose’ has leaves so thin that they do indeed look skeletal. Its other name is ‘Dr. Livingstone,’ and the two cultivar names are now interchangeable. Their scent is somewhere between lemon, lemongrass, and rose.

Recently, several pelargoniums have appeared on the market whose cultivar names play on their supposed ability to repel mosquitoes (‘Mosquitaway’, combining ‘mosquitoes’ and ‘away’). These are hybrids between scented pelargoniums (usually those mentioned above) and angel pelargoniums (themselves hybrids between P. crispum and P. x domesticum). If it’s any consolation, I too am starting to get lost in the pelargonium dynasty! In any case, the plants in the ‘Mosquitaway’ series have fragrant foliage, a compact habit, and spectacular, abundant, and prolonged flowering with small, usually two-toned violet-shaped flowers.

Growing Tips

Light

Outdoors, scented pelargoniums require direct sunlight or even light shade. Indoors, the brightest location is preferable. Yes, even direct sunlight! They tend to wither in medium light, so you can add horticultural lamps to help them.

Arrosage

This plant has leathery foliage and thick stems, and tolerates drought fairly well. It can be watered when the soil is dry. It is more sensitive to overwatering than to neglect. The leaves tend to droop when the plant is thirsty, but recover fairly quickly once watered. Wide-leaved species tolerate neglect better than small-leaved species.

Atmospheric Humidity

Scented pelargoniums prefer a rather dry atmosphere.

Soil and Potting

A potting mix for indoor plants should be suitable. It is best to add drainage elements to prevent overwatering.

Fertilizer

During the growth period, it can be fertilized at the recommended dose.

Temperature

It is best to keep the plant above 10°C (50°F).

A period in a cool place (between 10°C and 16°C, 50-60°F) can stimulate flowering.

Maintenance

Scented pelargoniums require little maintenance to survive. However, to make them look their best, a little work is needed. Regular pruning of the stems encourages the plant to branch out. It doesn’t always do so, so you may need to repeat the process. Although larger specimens tend to become covered in bark, it is sometimes necessary to stake the plant. Personally, I find that peony hoops also look good with plants that grow in a somewhat haphazard manner.

You can also shape it into a small tree or turn it into a bonsai.

Although they can live indoors all year round, pelargoniums like to spend the summer in the sun. The same rules apply to all plants that are brought in and out: they should be taken outside when the weather is mild and gradually acclimated to the light, then pampered when they come back inside as they adapt to the darker conditions in our homes. After a short period in the cold during the fall, pelargoniums can even bloom indoors during the winter. However, the plant usually enters a period of “semi-dormancy” during the darker months, when watering should be reduced considerably.Préparation pour l’hiver (facultative)

This article by The Laidback Gardener discusses preparing pelargoniums for winter. It focuses more on other types of pelargoniums; the advice is good, but bear in mind that it is not strictly necessary for scented pelargoniums. I treat mine like my other houseplants and have no problems with them!

Multiplication

Scented pelargoniums can be propagated from stem cuttings in the same way as many other houseplants. Cuttings are taken directly in soil and have a relatively high success rate without requiring too much effort. In fact, it is no more complicated than for many other plants—even though there are several myths that suggest otherwise.

Problems

Scented pelargoniums encounter relatively few problems.

• They are susceptible to rot if kept in too dark a place or overwatered, particularly during the dormant months when the plant consumes much less water.
• Pale stems with no leaves mean that the plant is not getting enough light. Please note: it is normal for the leaves to turn yellow in the fall and for old branches to lose their leaves over time. Similarly, it is often inevitable for many species that the stems bend or fall under their own weight.
• Insects: aphids and whiteflies, in particular.
• It is difficult to get these pelargoniums to flower again without taking them outside in the summer after a short period in a cool place. Even then, the blooms are often unimpressive.

Toxicity

Scented pelargonium is an edible plant. Avoid consuming plants that are not intended for human consumption if you do not know the growing conditions (fertilizers and pesticides, in particular, can be harmful to health).

In some people, pelargonium essential oil (in concentrated form or that contained in the leaf) can cause mild skin irritation.

Scented pelargoniums can cause various gastrointestinal disorders in cats and dogs, for whom the plant is considered slightly toxic.

Conclusion

A delight for all the senses: beautiful soft green foliage, a delicious fragrance, and flowers that add a touch of color… Scented pelargoniums are easy plants for bright homes and forgetful gardeners. With a little pruning and perhaps a stake, they are very easy to manage despite their rapid growth. Good luck finding the plant with the fragrance that suits you: there seems to be something for everyone!