Oak-leaved Geranium, Almond-scented Geranium, Village Oak Geranium 'Village Hill Oak'

The widely grown hybrid pelargoniums are popularly known as 'geraniums', but should not be confused with members of the genus Geranium of...Read More the same plant family. The genus Pelargonium consists of perhaps 280 species, the vast majority endemic to South Africa and adjacent Namibia, but a sprinkling of species are found elsewhere in the world including other parts of Africa, southwest Asia, Arabia, Australia, New Zealand and some Atlantic Ocean islands. Although pelargoniums are mostly soft-wooded shrubs and subshrubs, some are herbaceous perennials or even annuals; there is also a large but little known group of species that have succulent stems, leaves or roots and are grown by succulent collectors. The leaves of pelargoniums are often as broaod as they are long and are variously toothed, scalloped, lobed or dissected, depending on species; they are usually aromatic containing a wide range of essential oil, and may secrete resin droplets which give the leaves a sticky feel. Flowers of the wild species have the 2 upper petals differently colored or marked from the 3 lower ones, a feature that distinguishes from true geraniums. Their seeds are planted like thistledown, another distinguishing feature.
Scented-leafed pelargoniums are mostly shrubby and usually have a deeply lobed or dissected leaves that give off a quite remarkable range of odors when bruised or crushed, depending on the variety. They include both species and hybrids, and some also have quite pretty flowers. some of these are grown comercially for 'geranium oil', used in perfumery.
Cultivation:
These frost-tender plants are often treated like annuals for summr bedding in colder climates. In warmer climates with long hours of daylihgt they flower almost all the time, although they do not do well in extreme heat and humidty. Plant in pots or beds. The site should be sunny with light, well-drained, neutral soil. If grown in pots, fertilize regularly and cull dead heads. Avoid over-watering; Zonals in prtiular rot at the base if soil remains wet, although stems re-root higher up (but weaker plants result). Progagate from softwood cuttings from spring to fall.