Pelargonium is annual, tender perennial zones 9–1. The part of the plant used: Z fresh 3 fresh, dried with a height of approximately 2 ft. The fragrance is scented geraniums are, indeed, distinctly scented with oils in the leaves mimicking the fragrances of other nonrelated flowers and fruit. For instance, Pelargonium crispum equals lemon, P.graveolens equals rose, P. odoratissimum equals apple. Other scents include coconut, cinnamon, Old Spice, almond, and hazelnut. Cultivars grown for their flowers are also scented, sending aloft a distinctive aroma, especially the zonal types.
Many Pelargonium species have fancy leaves (palmate, dissected, scalloped, zonal colored), suitable for collaring nosegays. The flowers grow in clusters with stems as long as or longer than the stems of sweet peas, making them equally useful as cut flowers for short arrangements. The flower colors can be anything except yellow or blue (including contrasting streaks, splashes, and outlines). Individual florets can be as large as azalea florets. The beautiful leaves woven into fresh wreaths meant to dry after construction will retain their scent for many weeks.
Garden availability: flowers, late spring through autumn; leaves, year-round if the plants are wintered in greenhouses or manage to limp through a mild winter. The culture for cutting: FS, Usually grown in containers where the plants are not hardy. Select forms with scents and colors you be fond of and gaze for the longest leaf stems (petioles) and flower stems (peduncles) for adaptability when arranging.
Harvesting, conditioning, vase life: AM, SC, P, NF It has been said that floral preservatives can inhibit scents in leaves and flowers, but in the case of pelargoniums, you have not smelled this to be true. The harvest leaves when they are bright green and crisp, and cut the flowers when the cluster has less than half of the florets open.
Foliage can last about two weeks in water, and the flowering time is more than a week. So, if you are planning to buy this beautiful plant, then the buying tips are: Rarely offered for sale except as essential oils or dried and crumbled for potpourri.
