Peppermint Scented Pelargonium

Pelargonium Tomentosum  aka peppermint pelargonium / peppermint geranium is the best variety of mint-scented pelargonium from our collection. Even when raining (that seems to happen almost everyday in Vancouver), its velvety huge leaves are freeing a powerful warm-spicy fragrance of peppermint.

Pelargonium tomentosum  aka  peppermint scented pelargonium

I've promised to do a blog post about Pelargonium Tomentosum (peppermint geranium) when the plants will grow enough to try myself its foliage in my dishes. We started our plants from seeds ordered in South Africa last year and the plants are at maturity, so there is lots of trimmings to be used in cooking, potpourri or ointments.



The leaves are lobed, showy, with an angora-like texture, having a deep green color with gray hairy surface. They have some similarities to balsam scented pelargoniums: require water to encourage a healthy grow and  a neutral to alkaline well drained soil. They prefer a mid-day shade spot but enjoy also to capturing sunlight energy.  Believe me, their leaves are releasing a heavenly aroma in mint liqueur (creme de menthe) ,  pies, herbal teas or herb butter.

Pelargonium Tomentosum leaves capturing sunlight energy

Peppermint Pelargonium hairy leaves

Pelargonium Tomentosum is a rambling plant with vigorous growing habit, which may grow several feet height/ width, whose straggling shoots are spreading out in different directions, including horizontally. So... it is really difficult to decide how to shape them ;-)

Pelargonium tomentosum - peppermint geranium with rambling growing habit

I had to admit that peppermint pelargonium is a great ground-cover in garden landscape, or a leaf addition in hanging baskets and bedding plants. Their delicate fluffy white blossoms in summer are just a bonus, this plant remaining an exceptional useful and showy foliage-plant throughout the year.

Peppermint Pelargonium  fluffy flower buds and leaves

Until we'll decide which is the most appropriate " bonsai style" to molding  our plants .. we are just considering them a delightfully fragrant herb with an amazing growing habit,  which has to have it at your fingertips year round.