Scented Geraniums: Cultural Needs and Garden Uses

Gardeners tend to be familiar with the waxy-leafed flowering plant known as a geranium, but not with “Scented Geraniums.” Unlike geraniums, scented geraniums are grown not for the flowers they produce but for the scent their leaves emit: crush or rub the leaves of scented geraniums with your fingers and you disturb small hairs, releasing the oil and the corresponding scent. Have a favorite scent? Add yours to your garden by planting the corresponding scented geranium: rose, apple, lemon, lime, apricot, strawberry, orange, chocolate mint, coconut, cinnamon, peppermint and—the GardenZeus favorite—nutmeg.

Scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) are confusingly not geraniums at all but in a related genus called Pelargonium. This name confusion arises because Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish botanist who laid the foundations for binomial nomenclature or scientific naming of biological organisms, originally grouped all the species in one genus named Geranium. In 1789 Charles Louis L’Héritier de Brutelle, a French botanist separated the species into 2 genera but the common name geranium persisted. Both Geranium and Pelargonium are in the geranium family Geraniaceae.

Flowering of scented geraniums varies widely amongst species and cultivars but usually starts in the spring and continues into early or late fall. However, in general scented geraniums are grown for their fragrant foliage and their many different shapes, textures and fragrances.

As drought tolerant evergreen perennials that thrive in warm, dry summers and wet winters, scented geraniums make an ideal addition to any Mediterranean garden. Pair them with lavender, thyme and sage as part of an herb garden. Place scented geraniums along walkways or near benches where people can easily rub the leaves and enjoy their fragrance. Inland gardeners will have the best success growing scented geraniums in part sun locations offering shade from hot afternoon sun.

Scented geraniums want well-draining soil with a pH that is neutral to slightly acidic. Planting scented geraniums in lean to poor nutrient soil results in plants with stronger scents than when plants are grown in richer soil.

In general, scented geraniums are low maintenance plants that are drought tolerant and relatively pest free. Pinch and prune to maintain desired shape. Occasionally, deadhead the small flowers. Scented geraniums do not need to be fertilizer; adding fertilizer will decrease the intensity of their scent.

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Articles regarding other flowering plants suitable for warm to hot Mediterranean climates include:

Getting Started With California Poppy

Baby Blue Eyes: The Versatile California Wildflower

Sky Lupine: A Lovely California Native Wildflower