Pick of the Pelargoniums
THEY are synonymous with blowsy summer flowers, but there’s so much more to pelargoniums than the bedding plants sold at garden centres. It’s no exaggeration to say that they offer something for everyone: from bold, colourful blooms, rare species, heritage hybrids and exotic night-scented options to (my personal favourites) the scentedleaved varieties. Many make great patio and hanging basket plants; others will be more at home on a windowsill; flowers and foliage can be cut and popped in a vase; you can even use those scented leaves to add flavour to baking.
Many people confuse pelargoniums with geraniums. This stems from the 18th century, when plants were being categorised and the two groups were, incorrectly, lumped together. Botanically, ‘geranium’ applies only to herbaceous hardy geraniums (cranesbills),
