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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Geraniaceae (Geraniums) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 3-4 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Pelargonium tomentosum (Peppermint-Scented Geranium) - An aromatic low sprawling subshrub to 2 feet tall by 4 feet or more wide with velvety soft peppermint-scented leaves. In spring and summer appear the small white flowers with purple markings on the upper petals that develop on branched inflorescences above the foliage. Plant in light shade to coastal full sun in moderately well-drained soil and irrigate occasionally to regularly. Often listed as hardy only to 32°F but we have found it to easily recover from short duration temperatures down to 28°F and it certainly survived our January 2007 freeze with three nights with short duration temperatures down to 25°F with hardly a setback . This plant makes a great wide-spreading groundcover in light shade and the leaves can also be used as a culinary herb. Pelargonium tomentosum in habitat grows in sandy soils in semi-shaded, moist habitats, on the forest margins and stream sides in the mountainous areas of the southern Cape of South Africa. The name for the genus comes from Johannes Burman (1707-1780, a Dutch physician and botanist whom Linnaeus worked for in his youth. Burman first used the name to describe some South African Geraniums in 1738. The name was derived from the Greek word 'pelargós' (pe?a????) meaning "stork" because the seed head looks like that of a stork's beak. The species name tomentosum refers to the leaves which have soft short hairs. This plant also commonly called the Pennyroyal Geranium. Its strongly mint-scented leaves can be used to flavor tea, jellies and pastries and included in pot-pourris. The leaves have long been used in its native habitat for a topical treatment to soothe bruises and sprains.
This information about Pelargonium tomentosum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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