Pelargonium Purple Unique

The Pelargonium 'Purple Unique' is a variety of fragrant geranium from the Pelargoniums Unique group. This group is characterised by vigorous plants of large size, with large flowers. 'Purple Unique' forms a bush capable of reaching 1m (3ft) in all directions, with broad leaves, whose fragrance is difficult to define, but delightful. It is sometimes found to have a strawberry scent or a more spicy, woody scent. It develops large mauve flowers with almost black veins. This large  bush, flowering from April to October, offers an exceptional spectacle in open ground in mild climates, and is interesting even in winter due to its evergreen foliage. Pelargoniums are bred' from plants' from difficult climates and soils, but somewhat frost-sensitive. They are naturally resistant to summer drought, but need to be brought into a cold greenhouse in areas with cold winters.

The fragrant Pelargonium 'Purple Unique' is an old horticultural hybrid introduced in the 1890s. It is probably the result of cross-breeding different botanical species, which have given it fragrant foliage and a bushy habit, with florist geraniums, responsible for its beautiful and long flowering. All geraniums are plants native to South Africa, particularly well adapted to hot and dry climates, accommodating to the soil, but sensitive to frost. 'Purple Unique' is a magnificent cultivar, both aromatic and floriferous from April to October. The plant has a rounded bushy habit, almost as wide as it is tall, and branched stems that lignify over time. This variety will reach a height of 1m (3ft) in one season (in fertile and moist soil) with a minimum spread of 80cm (32in). Its green foliage is composed of leaves divided into 5 large lobes, with more or less triangular toothed edges. They are loaded with essential oils responsible for their pungent fragrance. When the plant is exposed to cold, these leaves can turn red or orange. The flowering develops in the form of umbels bearing 4 to 9 mauve flowers. The upper 2 petals are veined with almost black purple.

With a simple touch, the Pelargonium 'Purple Unique' releases a powerful fragrance. It encourages passers-by to touch its foliage and lean in to admire its delightful flowers. So plant it, in a pot or in the ground, in a place where you can enjoy it up close, along a path or in a pot on the terrace or veranda. Fragrant geraniums are precious for perfuming a room, where they delight us with their sometimes unexpected and wonderful scents. We were stopped in our tracks one day after the rain, in front of a bed of fragrant geraniums, and spent a long time immersing ourselves in a symphony of delicate fragrances. In mild climates, it is a plant that withstands summer drought quite well and requires very little maintenance, making it valuable for dry gardens where it blends well with different plants from the scrubland. Be careful, the "pelargomania" virus is contagious, especially when one has the chance to live in a region with mild winters: in open ground, a small potted plant becomes a true bush, sometimes exceeding 1m (3ft) in all directions! Sturdy, robust, almost indestructible, fragrant geraniums repel insects and are capable of regrowing from the stump after experiencing temperatures as low as -5°C (23°F)!

Try adding the fragrance of fragrant pelargonium to a recipe, it works! The edible leaves are used in fruit salads and potpourri.