Scented Geranium

Scented geraniums are heavenly scented flowering plants that are native to South Africa. They are very easy to grow both indoors and outdoors in pots as well as soil. If you plant these fragrant plants, you are in for a sweet-smelling treat all year round. However, it is also your responsibility to protect the plants from frost in winter.

Scientific Name
The correct name for the flower is pelargoniums. These scented pelargoniums belong to the same family Geraniaceae that includes the genus Geranium and Erodium. There are many species belonging to genus Pelargonium, few that are scented while some are scentless. During the early 1600's, the scented pelargoniums were brought from South Africa to Holland and England. These flowers have five petals, but pelargoniums have petals that are arranged, such that there are two upper petals and three lower petals. The upper petals are more vibrant in color and the flowers have evenly formed and regularly spaced petals. The term is commonly used to describe plants of both genus.

How to Grow Them?
Plants belong to the genus Pelargonium that releases a fragrant apricot, rose, apple, mint, lemon, chocolate peppermint, lime, citrosa, ginger, peacock, cinnamon, nutmeg and many more aromas. You can get a variety of size, shape, colors and fragrant plants that will suit your taste. The leaves are also very colorful and can be used to make tea and salads.

They grow to a height of 1 to 2 feet and can be easily grown in containers and pots and even garden soil. They follow a tender perennial life cycle and need full sun or bright light to grow. You can get seeds or cuttings from the local nursery for container gardening or for gardening outdoors. When growing outdoors, the plant should be grown in a sunny location with a loamy, well-drained soil. In case of pots, you should use loam-based compost to grow them.

The soil should be kept moist, not dry or wet. You should water the plant from the bottom to avoid wetting the leaves. The indoor plants should be fed with plant fertilizers every alternate week. You can even feed potassium-rich fertilizers to encourage flower growth. You can prune the plants in shape by pinching back tips in autumn and removing the spent flowers. They are prone to white fly infestation, therefore check the cutting before planting them in your home. In zone 8 and above, the plants are grown as perennials and should be grown indoors in zones 7 and lower.

Uses
Scented geraniums are used in many things like tea, cakes, jams, wines, ointments and perfumes. The leaves are used as flavors and added to a jar of sugar. The layer of leaves is covered with one or two scoops of sugar. Then another layer of leaves is added and that is again covered with another layer of sugar. Once the jar is full, it is to be kept on the windowsill in the sun. After a few days sift out the leaves and you will get perfumed induced sugar due to the scented leaves.

The leaves and flowers can be dried by cutting off their stems and placing them on the cooling rack. Then keep the rack in a dark place with good air circulation or you can dry them in the oven set on low. Then stuff them in a muslin bag and use as a potpourri.

You can even use leaves to flavor cakes, jellies or as a garnishing ingredient. Many herbalist use essential oil in perfumes, colones and even scented soap. They are also recommended for medicinal purposes like aromatherapy and spa massage.

Once you grow a plant, you will be hooked to the heavenly fragrance it produces. I hope you grow them in your home and enjoy the fragrance, beauty and coloration of these sweet-smelling plants.