Scented-leaved pelargoniums

Try growing scented-leaved pelargoniums - a fascinating group of plants whose dainty flowers open against scented leaves in a range of fragrances

- Anne Swithinbank

MY passion for pelargoniums with fragrant foliage started in childhood, with lemonscented P. graveolens, plain leaved P. crispum and peppermint P. tomentosum. They lived in pots on my bedroom windowsill, or out in our tiny greenhouse kept frost-free in winter with insulation and a paraffin heater. Most people called them ‘geraniums’, a confusing common name as it doubles as the botanical name for the genus of closely related hardy geraniums or cranesbills. Both pelargoniums and geraniums belong to the plant family Geraniaceae.

Tough and undemanding

Most pelargoniums originate from the Cape of South Africa and have been in cultivation since species were collected in the 17th century, giving rise to many hybrids. These tough, undemanding plants became widely grown and in Victorian Britain were typical of the plants touted door to door by traders. There are many different groups of pelargoniums, but those with scented leaves add another dimension to their allure. Between them, they carry the fragrance of apple, citrus, pine, cedar, rose, mint and spice.

Compared to zonal bedding types, their flowers are small but perfectly formed, in shades of lilac, soft pink, white and cream with darker markings. Most are in bloom for months and are usefully drought tolerant, being able to withstand some drying out in between waterings.

Flavouring food