Learn to care for ivy and scented-leaf geraniums

Although the upright-growing zonal geraniums are the most familiar members of the family, there are other geraniums worth considering for their beauty and scent. We'll go over two varieties and teach you how to grow them best.

• Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum), which are sold as bedding plants, are a boon to any window box or hanging basket where nights remain cool through the summer.
• These enthusiastic growers will tumble and cascade out of their containers, concealing them behind a curtain of long, trailing stems.
• Where summers are cool, ivy geraniums can also be used as a trouble-free ground cover to camouflage steep hillsides with a generous crop of blossoms.
• Like actual ivy, these plants have vine-like, spreading stems and thick, shiny, lobed, slightly curly leaves. While the geranium can't cling to surfaces like true ivy can, it has the bonus of profuse flower clusters bearing single star-shaped blooms in white, pink, red, lavender, burgundy, or salmon. The petals are often veined in a contrasting colour near the centre, adding a little drama.
• 'Summer Showers' is a particularly profuse-blooming strain.
• Give ivy geraniums full or partial sun, especially in hot-summer climates. Water them sparingly and they'll be perfectly happy to bloom in abundance.

• If you like to garden with your nose, you'll quickly fall in love with the lemon, mint, apple, spice, and even chocolate scents given off by the leaves of scented-leaf geraniums.
• The leaves not only smell delicious but are edible and can be used as garnishes or flavourings in salads, jellies, or baked goods.
• These plants have foliage and growth habits as varied as their fragrances. Some, such as 'Nutmeg,' have leaves no bigger than a thumbnail and spread by runners along the ground. 'Lemon' is a small plant with tiny leaves and a stiffly upright growth habit. Others, like 'Peppermint,' stand one metre (three feet) tall and have leaves the size of a man's hand.
• Most scented-leaf geraniums flower primarily in spring with white, pink, lavender, or red blossoms. But a few, such as the rose-scented 'Little Gem' and piquant 'Old Spice' bloom throughout the summer.
• Even when the plants are not in flower, their leaves can add pretty texture and colour to your garden.
• Scented-leaf geraniums are ideal for containers or as accents in the garden.
• To overwinter pot-grown plants, you can move them at season's end to a cool place where temperatures won't drop below -4°C (25°F).
• In summer, be sure to place them where you can enjoy their fragrance, such as beside a bench or along a path. The leaves only need a light stroking for the scent to be released.
• Full sun is best for these plants except where the summers are exceptionally hot. Then you should grow scented-leaf geraniums in partial shade.

Whether you're looking for an ivy-like plant that will make your hanging baskets beautiful or you simply want a more fragrant garden, there's a geranium for you. Use this guide to choose the right type and learn how to care for it properly. You'll be rewarded with some beautiful sights and smells.