pelargonium graveolens

Pelargonium graveolens meaning strong smelling in Latin was grown from seed last year and is now flowering, it has strong minty rose triangular deeply incised scented leaves and pale pink flowers. The scented leaves are used in food and beverages and is native to the Limpopo province and in parts of the Western Cape. 

pelargonium panduriforme

Pelargonium panduriforme (fiddle leaf pelargonium) has now started to flower, it is an upright shrub that grows to about 200 cm in height with strong tropical fruit/spicy balsam scented leaves and large pink flowers, Native to the Eastern Cape.

pelargonium elongatum

Pelargonium elongatum is now flowering, but I have recently discovered that flowers now have a blush of pink on the upper & lower petals (it usually is cream coloured). I don’t know if a new hybrid has been created or that it has appeared naturally.
though the leaves appear the same and we have had this plant a few years, the flowers have always been cream coloured until now. Very Strange

Pelargoniums in American history

Early colonists from Britain brought pelargoniums with them to the United States which were used to flavour cakes, syrups and potpourri.
A popular pelargonium at the time was the “true rose” which was a hybrid of P. graveolens.
Thomas Jefferson minister of France and third President of the United States of America sent pelargonium seeds to the botanist John Bartram in 1760 who grew them in his botanical gardens in
Philadelphia, known as Bartram’s gardens now the oldest botanical gardens in North America- more info athttps://bartramsgarden.org/history/
Thomas Jefferson himself was said to have grown them in the presidential house from 1801-1809.
After this time pelargoniums became increasingly popular in the United States.
Thomas Jefferson was one of the earliest responsible for creating the declaration of independence after the rejection of the British monarchy/aristocracy & the American revolution.

pelargoniums in Spring

As we are coming into Spring a few of the Pelargoniums are now starting to flower especially the P. quercifolium, P.quercifolium, and p.odoratissimum followed by many others which will soon start to bloom. Here in Crete we have had lovely weather this year encouraging the plants to flower earlier.

pelargonium history

Pelargoniums were first introduced into Europe during the 1600s when new discoveries and trade routes began to unfold,
P.triste was the first recorded pelargonium to travel to Europe and was taken to the gardens of Leiden by the Dutch East India company followed by many more newly discovered pelargoniums.
The Countess of Strathmore collected many South Africa plants including Pelargoniums and sent William Paterson a Scottish Soldier & botanist to collect plants for her from 1777 to 1779.
During the Victorian era pelargoniums became increasingly popular & greatly admired and were often kept in greenhouses and conservatories, many new hybrids were being created to appear more colourful and showy. After world war 1 & 2 these plants started to fall into decline.
Over the decades these amazing plants are now returning their popularity.
This image is of Pelargonium scintillans (sparkling stock’s bill) from an old book from www.artscult.com

pelargonium salmoneum

pelargonium salmoneum has brightly coloured salmon pink flowers which are now flowering well in the garden, it grows to about 5ft 1.5m and has semi succulent stems, the thick green leaves fold upwards.
It originates from the Eastern Cape province.

Pelargonium radens

We have had nice weather here in Crete the past week and I have been clearing the garden and planting seeds.
The Pelargonium radens is flowering well and is full of pale pink flowers, this plant is a few years old now and has taken a liking to growing inside the large succulent.