Pelargonium Brunswick - Regal Geranium

The Pelargonium 'Brunswick' is a fragrant geranium with very deeply cut foliage, a fresh and floral scent, also reminiscent of lavender. It produces very pretty flowers in summer, quite large, of a dark coral pink colour, tinged with an almost black red halo on the two upper petals. It forms a very beautiful bush, with a ramified growth and an erect habit, adorned with shiny evergreen leaves, particularly deeply cut. This plant is frost-sensitive and needs to be protected from frost in winter. It thrives in full sun, in a well-drained soil, even limestone and occasionally dry in summer.

The Pelargonium 'Brunswick' belongs to the Geraniaceae family. It is a hybrid derived from Pelargonium domesticum, obtained by A. Popperwell. When grown in a pot, the 'Brunswick' variety reaches about 40 cm (16in) in height and 50 cm (20in) in width. Its pubescent and soft branches, covered with green hairs when young, become woody over time. They bear evergreen leaves in winter, highly aromatic, divided and toothed. Their surprisingly shiny colour is a rather dark green. This pelargonium blooms in summer. The flowers are quite large, sometimes measuring more than 2.5 cm (1in) in length and of a bright coral pink colour. The 2 upper petals are marked with spots of an almost black red. They are slightly larger than the 3 lower petals.

The Pelargonium 'Brunswick' is a wonderful plant, exotic and undemanding, as beautiful to look at as it is delightful to smell. So plant it, in a pot or in the ground, in a place where you can enjoy it, along a path or in a large pot, on the terrace or in the conservatory, never too far from the house, or even inside the house, in a barely heated room in winter. We were captivated, one day after the rain, by a bed of fragrant geraniums and immersed ourselves in a small symphony of delicate scents. In very mild climates, it is a plant that perfectly withstands summer drought and requires very little maintenance, making it valuable for dry gardens, by the seaside.