For bad sunburn (easy in the South African sun) I add in a couple of tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel as well - it just gives the cream that extra bit of oomph. By the 1700's they were being grown in quantity for the perfume industry, and with the discovery that the Pelargonium capitatum—known as Attar of Roses—could serve as a substitute or adulterant for the costly true rose attar, extensive plantations of scented geraniums were established by British landowners in Kenya. Some suggest a pH of 6 to 7 (very slightly acid, or neutral), with peat moss, sand, or perlite added to provide balance and good drainage. Leave in the sun for a week, strain and repeat. Normally, we don't really eat the leaves but use them as flavoring and scenting agents. Rose cakes, syrups, and potpourri came from the kitchens of the day, and today that redolent rose scent is just as appealing. The leaves, flowers, and scented oils of many scented geraniums can be used as garnishes and in salads and for flavoring ice creams and desserts. The gorgeous green geranium spreads a citrus scent which is pleasant for you… but repels mosquitoes. It not only helps to nourish the wood but it also leaves a really lovely scent on it that lasts for days - the scent is delicate and not overpowering in this instance. It's hardy and very easy to grow. . The original herbs were introduced to Europe from South Africa in the early 1600's and attracted so much attention that by 1652 the Dutch East India Company had established a brisk trade in the plants. Fiona (author) from South Africa on December 16, 2013: Hi Jeanetter - I wouldn't eat the leaves as is, rather use them in a tea or in butter. Fiona is a qualified herbalist and aromatherapist. Make a tea and spray onto plants to treat aphids on plants. Geranium Pelargonium also called the rose-scented geranium is said to be the only known species which is safely consumable. They prefer a full sun location. They release their rose fragrance when brushed or crushed. I lather it on after a shower and it really helps perk me up. If you do not have space outside, you can try and grow the rose-scented geranium indoors. jams and jellies, cakes, flavored sugars and syrups, puddings, custards, You can also make a great bath vinegar by immersing a half cup of the chopped herb into 500 ml of good quality vinegar. As a result, propagation of scented geraniums fell into a decline, and many hybrids were lost. Scented geraniums are used in many aromatherepeutic remedies. Here are the seven groups and some of their best-known varieties: Rose: Old-fashioned Rose, Dr. Livingston, Logee's Snowflake, Attar of Roses, and Grey Lady Plymouth. The plant self-seeds and the little seedlings make great gifts. This is an example of one that is not edible at all—very similar in looks, but quite toxic. Replace the tissue every couple of months. You could also see it listed as Rose-Scented Geranium. Bruise the leaves to get more of the oils out. All authorities seem to agree that scented geraniums like moderate temperatures (55° to 70°F is ideal) and plenty of light, although heavily blossoming ones like Clorinda and Mrs. Taylor need direct sunlight. They are so easy to grow that there is no reason not to have fresh leaves on hand all year round. Spice: Nutmeg, Ginger, Old Spice, and Cinnamon. These should be three or four inches—or as much as four leaf nodes—long, taken from the main stem, and either cut with a very sharp knife or snapped off cleanly. Whether you brush against them or hold the leaves in your hand, the majestic scent releases and fills up the air. Thanks. Mix well and keep in a sealed container. The leaves, which retain their fragrance for years, can be dried and crumbled, then sewn into sachets or stirred into potpourri. (This will give some idea of just how extensive these plantations needed to be: It takes one ton of green material to produce a mere two and a half pounds of essence by the process of distillation!) Have, however, been making quite a good living writing non-fiction ebooks for clients - not quite the same thing but I guess it just shows that I can write when I really want to :). Sift out the leaves and you’ll have lovely scented sugar. Use in the bath as a scrub to help relax muscles and revitalize skin. (Actually, like people, scented geraniums can get sunburned, so be sure to shade them a bit during the hot summer months if they're in a window with southern or western exposure.) They are commonly mixed with sugar and left in a warm location for 2-4 weeks. Insects do not love this plant. “Scenteds” have other uses too. Versatile as well as varied, scented geraniums can be tucked into the garden between the herbs and flowers, grown in hanging baskets, trained as standards (tree-like forms), or simply planted in pretty pots to grace a sunny kitchen window or—during the warmer months—to occupy a spot near an entryway, inviting the touch of passersby. The flowers are very pretty and edible and so are useful in decorating iced goods, etc. Both the flowers and leaves are edible. Or is there something wrong with my plant? While many plants have scented flowers, the scented geranium has fragrant leaves. When the plants also have charming flowers, a great assortment of textures and shapes, and an array of fragrances that duplicate some of our favorite flavors and perfumes, most people would agree that they're nothing short of scentsational! Chop up some of the fresh leaves herbs and add to softened butter to create a really delicious and unusual butter. (About 2-3 drops per 50 ml of oil). Rose-scented geranium has been used in traditional Tunisian folk medicine for the treatment of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). Take a few sprigs and bunch them into a face cloth. Make your tea according to the instructions listed above. Bruising the leaves is simply crushing them a bit. In summer I keep a jar of this cream in the fridge - it is perfect for soothing tired, hot, sun-burnt skin. In a rat study, it was found that the hypoglycemic effect of rose geranium oil was significantly more effective than that of glibenclamide, a known anti-diabetic drug. This is one plant I have never been without in my garden. The Mosquito Fighter has a compact shape and felty-hairy, bright green leaves. Still, they do make nice gifts so grow a few slips, put them into pretty pots and hand out to friends. You can use an aromatherapy burner or a diffuser; you can use a bowl of water placed on top of a radiator; you can even drop a few drops into the inside of the toilet tissue tube to scent the bathroom. With the advent of World War I and its concomitant fuel shortages, greenhouse production of ornamental plants was banned. CULINARY USE: Scented Geraniums have been used in cooking for centuries. For best results, Heidgen places the peat pots on a cake rack that's set into a pan with some water in the bottom. Already a Member but International Subscribers - Click Here Scented geraniums were originally brought to Holland and England from South Africa in the mid-1600s. Get a good quality aqueous cream and add a few drops of essential oil. Pelargonium / ˌ p ɛ l ɑːr ˈ É¡ oʊ n i ə m / is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 280 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as geraniums, pelargoniums, or storksbills. You must, however, always dilute the oils properly—at a maximum concentration of 2%—by mixing them into a carrier oil or cream base. Used in a cream base, the oils are very moisturizing and excellent for dry skin. Made into a room freshening spray, it is especially effective in rooms with stale, smoke-filled air. Strawberry and citral-scented, it is used in perfumery and soap making. Water them only when the soil has dried out somewhat (it should feel dry to the touch, but do not let the plant roots dehydrate), then soak them thoroughly and allow them to drain completely. When you water, drench the plant thoroughly and drain away any excess water. Mesh bags containing the newly picked herbs can be steeped in bathwater to perfume it, while leaves of the lemon-scented varieties, in particular, are a pleasant addition to finger bowls. I hope all is well for you. Like to read more content, Join the Mother Earth News Community Today. Add a teaspoon of honey if you don't find it sweet enough already. Scented geraniums are … Rose-scented geranium is simple to use. Award-winning Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' (Scented Geranium) is a bushy evergreen sub-shrub boasting rose-scented, pinnately lobed leaves. Only 1 available and it's in 2 people's carts. It is quite a strongly scented herb and is also very pretty. Believe it or not, this herb is great for the gardener - if you get bitten by a bug in the garden or scratch yourself, scrunch up a couple of leaves and apply to the area. This will remove the itchiness and help the skin to heal. Geranium is excellent for treating a range of womens health issues from hot flashes and distress during menopause and menstrual cramps. To make this flavor stronger, add one or two drops of rose oil or rosewater to the batter. For a soft rose taste that's both unusual and elegant, lay several of these leaves in the bottom of a greased and floured loaf pan when you're baking a white or pound cake. Scented geranium cuttings are more susceptible to rot than those from the familiar garden type, so the rooting medium should be very well drained, and you should water conservatively. There's something very special about plants with aromatic foliage ... they have a kind of unexpected and delightful allure. The essential oil of scented geraniums has also been used in perfumes, insect repellents, astringents, and in aromatherapy oils. It is early October here in New York State. Lemon: Prince Rupert, Lemon-scented, Mable Grey, Lemon Balm, and Rose Bengal. Smooth over tired feet and legs for an instant boost. Do be patient here because it could take a little while. Pelargonium (Scented Geranium) Filter by. Geraniums can be used in the kitchen, too, for jams and jellies, cakes, flavored sugars and syrups, puddings, custards, and beverages such as tea or wine. Canadian subscriptions: 1 year (includes postage & GST). Despite their common name, scented geraniums are unrelated to the true geranium (Geranium maculatum), or cranesbill, whose lovely rose pink flowers are often found growing wild in temperate woodlands. Growing a rose-scented geranium is pretty easy. Well done Fiona! Stuff a cotton ball, tissue or some toilet paper into the bottle and add a few drops of essential oil. With fragrances of fruits, flowers, spices, or even chocolate, scented geraniums delight the senses. They should be pruned annually to prevent them from getting scraggly. 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