Pelargonium × fragrans

Pelargonium × fragrans is a tender perennial,  most notable for its strongly aromatic foliage, which releases a spicy, resinous, or nutmeg-like scent when rubbed.

Like many pelargoniums, it originates from southern Africa, although this hybrid is now cultivated worldwide.

 Its leaves are small, rounded to slightly lobed, bluish-green in color and covered with fine hairs that contain the aromatic oils.

The scent is said to be nutmeg-like with a hint of lemon but I find that it smells more like pines.

The flowers are generally small, ranging from white to pale pink, and appear in loose clusters.

While the flowers are delicate and ethereal, the plant is primarily grown for its fragrant foliage.

👨‍🌾CONSEILS DE JARDINAGE👨‍🌾: Pelargonium × fragrans

• • FROST:  they will survive a light frost > if the temperatures are below -10°C for extended periods, they’ll be happier indoors

  • CARE: A light trim in autumn to prevent woodiness.

  • USES: Use to flavour tea, jams, cakes, or as a filler for pots of potpourri or herb pillow

  • S’accorde parfaitement avec Festuca glauca, Echinacea purpurea, Stipa tenuifolia, Verbena bonariensis

Learn more about gardening with  Pelargoniums:

• • ENG: Growing Scented Geraniums
  • FR : Les Geraniums odorants

Les Contes et La Botanique : Pelargonium × fragrans

Pelargonium × fragrans is a hybrid species in the Geraniaceae family, believed to result from a cross between Pelargonium odoratissimum (from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Western Cape) and Pelargonium exstipulatum (originally from the Karoo)

There have been other suggested parent plants – Pelargonium coronopifolium, a Western Cape endemic, but I will leave the genealoguy to the botanists.

Scented pelargoniums like Pelargonium × fragrans have long been cherished in cottage gardens, often planted near doorways or windows to release fragrance when brushed against.

During Victorian times, pelargoniums were included in the “language of flowers,” symbolizing comfort, warmth, and home.

This plant is sometimes called the “nutmeg geranium” because of its warm, spicy scent, which inspired its use in potpourris and herbal sachets.

Folklore in certain regions also suggested that aromatic pelargoniums could repel negative energy, likely due to their insect-repellent properties.

Floral Morphology: Pelargonium × fragrans

Morphologically, Pelargonium × fragrans forms a compact, bushy shrublet that remains low and rounded.

The stems gradually become woody at the base as the plant matures.

Pelargonium × fragrans produces small, delicate flowers that are typically white to pale pink in color, often arranged in loose, airy clusters at the ends of stems.

Each flower has the characteristic pelargonium structure, with five petals that are slightly asymmetrical, the upper two petals usually being larger or more distinct than the lower three.

The flowers possess ten stamens, although in many cultivated hybrids, only a subset is fertile, reflecting the hybrid nature of the plant.

The ovary is superior, and the style elongates after pollination to aid in the dispersal of seeds, a mechanism typical of the genus Pelargonium.

Biologie Reproductive

Reproduction in Pelargonium × fragrans can occur sexually through seed production, although because it is a hybrid, seed viability is often low, and the offspring may not reliably resemble the parent plant.

Consequently, vegetative propagation is the preferred method for maintaining the plant’s desirable aromatic and morphological traits.

Flowering generally occurs during the warmer months, and while the flowers are relatively small and subtle, they attract pollinators such as bees, which contribute to the limited sexual reproduction.