Scented geraniums have so many unique traits that help them stand out from the crowd. And honestly, they need them! With over 300 different varieties out there, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To help you narrow it down, I’ve put together a list of my favorite picks featuring incredible scents and gorgeous colors.
Citrus-Scented Geranium Varieties
- ‘Atomic Snowflake’: Smells like oranges, features light violet flowers and beautiful cream-yellow variegated leaves. Grows about 24-32 inches tall.
- ‘Dorcas Brigham Lime’: A refreshing lime scent with pink flowers accented by magenta markings.
- ‘Lemon Fancy’: Intense lemon aroma with large pink-and-white flowers and a dark “eye.” It has jagged foliage and grows up to 24 inches.
- ‘Lemon Fizz’: A crisp, clear lemon note paired with lovely pink blooms.
- ‘Prince of Oranges’: Smells just like oranges! It produces tons of pink flowers with dark centers and has a compact, upright growth habit (up to 20 inches).
- ‘Purple Unique’: A sweet lemony scent with stunning pink to purple flowers. This one is a grower, reaching up to 4 feet tall!
Pro Tip:
When you plant your scented geraniums (technically called scented Pelargoniums), try to place the citrusy ones near your favorite patio seating. The essential oils in these plants are great for naturally keeping mosquitoes and wasps away while you relax.
Mint-Scented Geranium Varieties
One of the most popular minty varieties is ‘Chocolate Peppermint.’ It features pink flowers and cool brown patterns on the leaves, reaching about 24 inches in height. If you want something a bit more complex, ‘Crowfort Rose’ offers a hint of rose alongside the mint. It has small lavender flowers and yellow-edged leaves.
Rose-Scented Geranium Varieties
- ‘Attar of Roses’: Often used for essential oil production, this variety has small pink flowers and large dark green leaves. It’s a vigorous grower, reaching up to 3 feet.
- ‘Bourbon’: A powerful rose scent, also a favorite for making fragrance oils.
- ‘Lady Plymouth’: A lovely rose scent with a touch of cinnamon. It features purple flowers and white-edged leaves.
- ‘Rober’s Lemon Rose’: Light lilac flowers with dark purple patterns; grows tall and upright.
Pro Tip:
Scented geraniums don’t just smell amazing—they’re actually edible! Feel free to snip a few leaves to flavor salads and desserts, or pluck the flowers to use as a beautiful garnish.
Other Unique Scents to Try
- ‘Apple Betty’ and ‘Happy Appleblossom’ – Apple
- ‘Cola-Scented Geranium’ – Cola (yes, really!)
- ‘Double Apricot’ and ‘Madame Nonin’ – Apricot
- ‘Golden Clorinda’ – Cedar
- ‘Peach Cream’ – Peach
- ‘Pepper’ – Black Pepper
- ‘Pink Champagne’ – Ginger
- ‘Sue Ellen’ and ‘Lilian Pottinger’ – Pineapple
- ‘Incense Geranium’ – Frankincense
Pro Tip:
If you fall in love with a specific variety, it’s super easy to clone it using cuttings. This ensures your new baby plants have the exact same scent and genes as the mother plant!
