2006 Herb of the Year

The International Herb Association chose the scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) as 2006 Herb of the Year. These are enchantingly collectible and fragrant plants!

Delightful scented geraniums (Pelargonium spp.) have been grown in gardens and collected for centuries and with good reason. Although their blooms tend to be subtle, they are still a welcome addition to any flower garden. They are fragrant, sport attractive foliage all season and are easy to grow. They are also the ultimate in scratch'n'sniff technology, sure to entertain your children and friends, not to mention add to your resident cook's repertoire.

The most common scent (and probably most popular) is rose, which you will find in an assortment of named varieties. Next comes lemon, followed by a mix such as mint, nutmeg, balsam and even a few fruity scents. Beyond scent, the plants are vigorous and good-looking and offer a wide variety of foliage patterns, textures and colors.

These collectible plants are easy to grow and propagate -- which may have helped them to become so widely grown. They make a great houseplant, do well in a container outdoors, and even grow just fine in the garden year round in frost free climates. It's no wonder they are so popular!

Herbs are by definition useful and in this case, uses abound! The exhaustive and generously photo-illustrated HERBALPEDIA listing for Pelargonium spp. (edited by Maureen Rogers for the Herb Growing and Marketing Network) includes an amazing list of recipes for everything from cosmetics to desserts to a liqueur!

Keep an eye out for these plants this spring.