Kew Garden Guide, Pelargoniums

There are pages in the book about the different scented pelargonium species, ranging from the 1700s to the 1990s.

This comprehensive guide is in a series of gardening books published by The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. The pelargoniums book traces the history of pelargoniums and discusses the ongoing confusion over their nomenclature that often confuses gardeners.

It describes all the diverse groups of pelargonium species, including highlighting the characteristics of scented leaves. It shares extensive information on cultivation, along with techniques and drawings. The book covers over 200 different plant varieties, including 21 distinctive scented pelargoniums.

The name mentioned after each species below refers to the individual who first described the plant, while the person in parentheses indicates the individual who later changed its name. The date is the earliest known listing of each species in literature or a catalog.

P. crispum (Bergius) L’Heritier 1774

P. fragrans Willdenow 1800

P. graveolens L’ Heritier ex Aiton 1777

P. odoratissimum (Linnaeus) L’Heritier 1724

P. tomentosum Jacquin 1790