Pelargonium Atomic Snowflake

The Pelargonium 'Atomic Snowflake' is a variety of fragrant geranium characterised by subtly variegated foliage with cream-white, and sometimes yellow, edges, and a scent of rose and lemon. Derived from the umbel-flowered pelargonium (Pelargonium capitatum), it produces bouquets of small lavender-pink flowers from late spring to summer, also highly fragrant. This superb variety forms a small shrub covered with large rounded and lobed evergreen leaves. Vigorous and undemanding, it grows quickly in all types of well-drained soil, in full sun. It is a frost-tender plant that is cultivated in pots outside of the most sheltered coastal gardens.

The fragrant geranium 'Atomic Snowflake' belongs to the geranium family. One of its parents is the South African Pelargonium capitatum, better known as Rose Geranium, whose foliage gives off a rose scent. This 'Atomic Snowflake' variety is a perennial shrub, but frost-tender, perishing below -3°C (26.6°F). Its bushy habit is supported by villous stems, which lignify over time, allowing the plant to reach a height of 50-60 cm (20-24in) (or more) with a spread of 60-70 cm (24-28in). The whole plant emits a complex scent combining notes of rose, lemon, and Eucalyptus. Its highly ornamental foliage consists of rounded, cordate-based leaves, divided into 3 lobes, irregularly dentate on the edges, leathery, and slightly villous. The leaf margin is variegated with cream-white, sometimes yellow. The lamina is irregularly speckled and crossed by whitish lines on a tender green background, some leaves may be completely green. It even happens that some stems that have lost their variegated character return to solid green. Flowering takes place from May-June to August-September. It takes the form of dense heads containing 10 to 20 small light pink-purple flowers measuring 15 mm (1in), light, perhaps less spectacular than those of classic perennial or annual hybrids, but more authentic. The 2 upper petals, veined with garnet at the base, are larger than the 3 lower petals.

The Pelargonium 'Atomic Snowflake' is as interesting for the uniqueness of its foliage as it is for its delicate fragrance, which delights the gardener and repels mosquitoes. Plant it, therefore, in a pot or in the ground, in a place where you can touch it, in a large pot that you will place along a path or on the terrace, but also in the conservatory. We were stopped one day after the rain by a bed of fragrant geraniums, and immersed ourselves in a symphony of delicate scents. In very mild climates, it is a plant that withstands summer drought perfectly and requires very little maintenance, making it valuable for dry gardens, by the seaside.

The leaves of Pelargonium capitatum are widely used in perfumery to extract a rose essence, and the English pick its flowers to flavor their jellies. Try flavouring a recipe with fragrant pelargonium flowers, it works! The edible leaves are used in fruit salads and potpourri.