Fragrant Pots
Scented geraniums and containers are made for each other
February/March 1996
By JIM BECKER & FAYE BRAWNER
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The delicate but vibrant flower of Apricot scented pelargonium
Photograph by Michael Vassar
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Scented geraniums are admirable in so many
ways. We can step back and view them within the intricate tapestry
of a garden or move forward to explore the smaller secrets held in
their elemental fragrances, shapes, colors, and textures. Unlike
most garden plants, their fragrances come not from transitory
blossoms but may be summoned from the leaves any day of the year
(or appreciated in potpourris, cosmetics, and bouquets). Some
varieties also have a place in the kitchen, flavoring jellies and
cakes.
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Popularly known as scented geraniums, these plants are actually
scented pelargoniums. Like the common garden geraniums, they belong
to the genus Pelargonium. The generic name, from the Greek
pelargos, “stork”, comes from the notion that the long, narrow seed
capsule resembled a stork’s bill. Storksbill is also an old common
name. Pelargoniums belong to the geranium family (Geraniaceae), as
does the genus Geranium, which includes cranesbills and herb
Robert.
There are some 250 naturally occurring species of Pelargonium,
most native to South Africa. Many have highly scented leaves, which
are a natural deterrent against grazing animals, but only a few are
the scented pelargoniums of gardens. The ease of hybridization,
which has led growers to develop countless cultivars of scenteds,
has resulted in nursery plant lists of more than 100 scented
varieties, but only a few of these are true species. Among the best
known of these are Apple (P. odoratissimum), Coconut (P.
grossularioides), lemon (P. crispum and P. citronellum), rose (P.
graveolens and P. capitatum), and the refreshing Peppermint (P.
tomentosum).
The scent is contained in small beads of oil produced in glands
at the base of tiny leaf hairs. Bruising or crushing a leaf breaks
the beads and releases their fragrance. A few varieties need but a
casual brushing to produce a noticeable fragrance. Some have an
easily identifiable fragrance, such as lemon, peppermint, orange,
or rose, whereas others may smell like cinnamon to one person and
citrus to someone else. Others have only a green-leaf scent.
The leaves of scented pelargoniums vary in shape, size, color,
and texture. They range in length from 1/2 inch to more than 6
inches. Some are almost circular, others lobed to varying degrees;
still others are as finely divided as a fern frond. The most common
leaf color is medium green, but leaves may also be deeper green or
even grayish or silvery in tone. Some leaves are splashed or edged
with white, cream, or yellow. Purplish brown may blotch leaf
centers or color their veins and midribs. Leaf textures can be
smooth, rough and raspy, hairy, or soft and velvety.
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