Growing Guide
How to Grow Scented Pelargoniums
Scented pelargoniums are grown primarily for their beautifully fragrant foliage, although many varieties also produce attractive flowers throughout the summer. With scents ranging from rose and lemon to mint, orange and even chocolate, they are among the most interesting and rewarding plants you can grow.
They thrive in containers, patio pots and sunny borders, making them perfect for bringing fragrance closer to where you spend time outdoors. Many varieties also have culinary uses, with their scented leaves often used to flavour cakes, desserts, drinks and homemade preserves.
Although they look exotic, scented pelargoniums are surprisingly easy to grow. Give them plenty of sunshine, avoid overwatering and protect them from frost, and they will reward you with months of scented foliage and attractive flowers.
Need to know
• Tender perennial that needs protection from frost.
• Grows best in full sun.
• Excellent for containers, patio pots and conservatories.
• Allow compost to dry slightly between watering.
• Regular feeding encourages healthy growth throughout summer.
• Pinching out growing tips creates bushier, more compact plants.
• Most varieties are grown for their scented foliage rather than their flowers.
• Leaves from many varieties can be used in cooking and baking.
Choosing Your Plant
Choosing the Right Variety
One of the great attractions of scented pelargoniums is the incredible range of fragrances available. Rather than choosing purely by flower colour, think about how you would like to enjoy the scent.
Rose-scented varieties are among the most popular and are ideal for pots near seating areas. Lemon-scented varieties produce fresh citrus fragrance and are often used in cooking and drinks. Mint, orange, apple and spice scented varieties all bring something different to the collection.
Many gardeners quickly discover that one scented pelargonium is never enough, and it is easy to build a collection that provides a wonderful range of fragrances throughout the summer.
Growing Conditions
Choosing the Right Position
Scented pelargoniums perform best in a sunny, sheltered position where they receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day.
They are particularly well suited to containers because they prefer excellent drainage and dislike sitting in wet compost. A free-draining compost and a pot with plenty of drainage holes will produce much healthier plants.
Avoid cold, exposed areas where strong winds may damage new growth.
Getting Started
Planting Your Scented Pelargonium
Plant scented pelargoniums once the risk of frost has passed.
Choose a container large enough to allow good root development and use a quality peat-free compost with excellent drainage. Water thoroughly after planting before allowing the compost to begin drying slightly between future watering.
Avoid planting too deeply. The base of the stem should remain above the compost surface.
Ongoing Care
Watering
One of the most common mistakes is watering too often.
Allow the top of the compost to begin drying before watering thoroughly again. During very hot weather containers may require watering every day, while cooler weather will reduce watering requirements considerably.
Always water the compost rather than soaking the leaves where possible.
Healthy Growth
Feeding
Feed regularly throughout the growing season using a balanced liquid fertiliser before changing to a high-potash feed once flower buds begin to develop.
Plants growing in containers depend entirely on the nutrients available within the compost, so regular feeding will produce healthier foliage and more flowers.
Reduce feeding as autumn approaches and stop completely during winter.
Keeping Plants Compact
Pruning and Maintenance
Pinching out the growing tips encourages side shoots and produces a much bushier plant.
Remove faded flowers and damaged leaves throughout the season to keep plants looking tidy.
If plants become leggy, trim them lightly during summer to encourage fresh growth rather than allowing long, weak stems to develop.
Winter Protection
Overwintering
Before the first frosts, move plants into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or bright windowsill.
Reduce watering significantly during winter and stop feeding until spring growth begins.
Good air circulation is important throughout winter to reduce the risk of disease.
Troubleshooting
Common Problems
Yellow leaves are usually caused by excessive watering.
Weak, stretched growth normally indicates insufficient light.
Poor flowering is often the result of too much nitrogen or not enough sunshine.
Soft stems or blackened growth may indicate frost damage or waterlogged compost.
Most problems can be avoided by providing plenty of sunlight, excellent drainage and avoiding overwatering.
From the grower
Alan's Top Tip
Don't grow scented pelargoniums purely for their flowers.
The real enjoyment comes from brushing past the leaves and releasing their incredible fragrance. Plant them beside paths, patios, doorways or seating areas where you can enjoy their scent every time you walk past.
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