Pelargonium Odoratissimum

This evergreen perennial pelargonium plant is easy to grow. It likes to grow in semi-shade to shady places, especially under trees and bushes. They prefer sandy to loamy well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist, but avoid overwatering them.

The flowers are small and white in colour and have tiny rose blotches on the upper petals. The flowering period is from May to July. The flowers attract various insects like bees and butterflies. The crushed leaves release a strong scent of apple and lemon.

P. odoratissimum is best kept inside from fall to spring in areas with harsh and cold winters. You could, for instance, keep them in a cool basement room. It is important, that you do not water the plants too much during this time, water them sparingly!

Also, it is recommended to trim the plants back to base in fall (or in spring). This will encourage the plant to grow back nicely.

Propagation: They can be grown from either cuttings or seeds.

Seeds: Sow the seeds in a protected place (greenhouse or such) and be patient: germination often takes a while (from weeks to months). Keep the young plants in a sheltered place and take it inside in wintertime. Plant them outside the coming spring.

Cuttings: It is preferable to grow plants from cuttings in early summer. Then, the plants have the chance to grow strong to withstand the cold winter period.