Geranium Blog

Heat Tolerant Scented Geraniums For Desert Dwelling Gardeners

Desert dwelling gardeners face a daunting array of problems. Triple digit temperatures, high winds, low humidity all create difficult challenges. Zonal geraniums have a rough time in the Las Vegas summer. What about the scenteds? Good news: Many scented geraniums live happily with our weather extremes.

I thought a list of the most heat tolerant and trouble free would be useful. Everything on this list I have grown for over a year in Southern Nevada. They perform well with only the basic care - no special treatment. (Basic care is defined as water, fertilizer, repotting as needed and half day of sun.) This list is not meant to be definitive and will most certainly grow longer in the future.

Heat Tolerant Scented Geraniums For Desert Gardeners:

• Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' (rose)
• P. crispum (lemon)
• P. crispum 'Minor' (lemon)
• P. 'Dr. Livingstone' (lemon-rose)
• P. grossularioides (coconut)
• P. limoneum (lemon-lime)
• P. lucaeflora (rose)
• P. ionidiflorum (celery)
• P. 'Mint Scented Rose' (mint)
• P. odoratissimum (apple)
• P. 'Old Scarlet Unique' (pungent)
• P. 'Orange' (orange)
• P. 'Roller's Satinique' (pungent)
• P. 'Sandalwood' (woodsy)
• P. 'Strawberry' (strawberry)

Which worthy, hardworking young scented geraniums will make it to the Heat Tolerant List next? What pitfalls await them? Which scented geraniums have been "deselected" from the List? And why, why, why? You'll read it all here first.

Seed Report

Pelargonium x fragrans (Nutmeg) with flowers and seedheads

As you can see, Nutmeg Geranium is covered with flowers and seed heads. The same goes for P. odoratissimum (Apple). P. grossularioides (Coconut) - always a vigorous seed producer - is just getting started.

There are two small-scale seed producers so far this year: P. 'Strawberry' has three cranesbills forming. Also, P. x fragrans 'Snowy Nutmeg' has produced a few seedheads. Will the seedlings be variegated like the parent?

And then, a zonal geranium called 'Patriot Salmon Chic' has nine seedheads so far, but who knows if they will reproduce true. And besides that, the tag says "Do not propagate".

Strawberry Surprise!

Pelargonium 'Strawberry'

Strawberry Geranium is one of my favorites. This geranium will bloom periodically throughout the spring and summer. Of the smaller-sized scented pelargoniums, this is one of the most rewarding to grow. Whether it is blooming or not, it always looks interesting and exotic.

More about Pelargonium 'Strawberry'

From Broken to Beautiful

Pelargonium 'Strawberry'

August in Las Vegas: we find ourselves saying things like, "It's so nice out - only 102!" I've been grooming my container plants - deadheading, trimming, and removing debris. Two of my favorite scented geraniums were injured a few weeks ago. A strong wind blew them off the railroad tie they normally sit on.

Pelargonium 'Strawberry' has recuperated beautifully with a zen-like grace. Pelargonium 'Orange' split three ways at the center trunk. I wasn't sure if it would make it, but it has and is now sprouting new growth at the center.

Pelargonium 'Orange'

New growth emerging near the split trunk

Strawberry Geranium Takes a Turn

Pelargonium 'Strawberry'

Strawberry Geranium started blooming today. It looks strawberry-ish, doesn't it? I was surprised that the flowers are larger than the tiny serrated leaves. Most of the flower stalks hold two buds only. This scented geranium has a sweet strawberry scent.