Shottesham Pet Geranium Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet' (Sc)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet', commonly known as a type of geranium, boasts a striking appearance characterized by its vibrant and lush foliage accompanied by enchanting flowers. The leaves of this plant are rich green with a touch of zonal patterns, which may be darker green or occasionally exhibit a hint of burgundy or bronze, depending on the variety, giving it a unique texture and appearance. These patterns often resemble rings or zones, hence the term 'zonal geranium'. The edges of the leaves can be softly scalloped or may display a more pronounced lobed shape, enhancing the ornamental quality of the plant. Flowering tops the beauty of the geranium, with the 'Shottesham Pet' producing clusters of blooms that seem to float atop the foliage on slender, yet sturdy stalks. The flowers themselves are a captivating display, with petals that can range from soft pinks to rich purples, often adorned with striking veining or a gradient of hues that can sometimes appear almost iridescent. These blossoms are typically rounded with five symmetrical petals that form a loose rosette shape, giving the plant an endearing charm when in full bloom. Geraniums overall are known for their rounded, often mound-forming habit, creating a neat and compact appearance that contributes to their popularity in garden borders, containers, and hanging baskets. With its attractive foliage and beautiful blooms, Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet' can add a burst of color and a touch of elegance to any setting, making it a beloved choice among gardeners and plant enthusiasts.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Geraniaceae.
- Synonyms
  Shottesham Pet Geranium, Fancied Geranium, Scented Geranium.
- Common names
  Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet'
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Pelargonium, commonly known as geranium, is generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, consuming any part of the geranium plant could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It is recommended to avoid ingesting parts of the plant and to keep them away from children who might accidentally consume them.
- To pets
  Geraniums are considered toxic to pets, particularly to dogs and cats. If a pet ingests any part of a geranium, symptoms of poisoning may include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, and anorexia. In some cases, it can also cause dermatitis in pets if they come into contact with the plant. If you suspect your pet has ingested geranium, it is important to contact a veterinarian immediately.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Pink
- Height
  2 feet [60 cm]
- Spread
  2 feet [60 cm]
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  10
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attractive Foliage: Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet', commonly known as scented geranium, provides lush, ornamental leaves that enhance garden aesthetics.
- Aromatic Qualities: The plant is well-known for its pleasant fragrance, which can be enjoyed in the garden or when used in potpourri and scented products.
- Insect Repellent: The essential oils in scented geranium leaves can help repel certain insects, providing a natural form of pest control.
- Drought Resistance: Scented geraniums are relatively drought-tolerant, making them suitable for gardens in areas with water restrictions or low rainfall.
- Easy Propagation: These plants can be easily propagated from cuttings, allowing gardeners to create new plants without purchasing additional ones.
- Container Gardening: Due to its modest size, Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet' is ideal for container gardening and can be grown on patios, balconies, or indoors.
- Long Blooming: Scented geraniums offer a long blooming season, with flowers that can add color and interest to the garden for much of the year.
- Culinary Use: The leaves of scented geraniums are sometimes used to flavor desserts, jellies, and teas, adding a unique taste to culinary creations.
- Wildlife Attraction: The flowers of the scented geranium can attract butterflies and other beneficial pollinators, contributing to the biodiversity of the garden.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Crafting botanical prints: The leaves and flowers of Geranium can be used to create unique botanical prints on fabric or paper as part of an art project.
- Aromatherapy uses: Geranium's fragrance is valued in aromatherapy for creating a calming atmosphere and is often used in essential oil diffusers.
- Natural dye source: The petals can be boiled to extract natural dyes for colouring textiles, yarn, or paper, providing shades of pink and blue.
- Culinary decoration: The vibrant flowers can be used as edible decorations on cakes and desserts for a touch of elegance.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals make for biodegradable confetti at weddings or celebrations, offering an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic.
- Handmade soaps and candles: The petals and scents can be infused into homemade soaps and candles for a natural fragrance and aesthetic appeal.
- Floral bath sachets: Dried Geranium flowers can be placed in muslin bags to create soothing bath sachets.
- Natural insect repellent: Geranium plants are said to repel mosquitoes and other insects, making them useful in eco-friendly insect repellent strategies.
- Bookmark creation: Laminating small Geranium flowers and leaves can create beautiful and natural bookmarks.
- Fragrance for homemade potpourri: Dried Geranium petals and leaves can be included in potpourri mixtures to add a pleasant scent to indoor spaces.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Geranium is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Geranium is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Comfort: The cozy, familiar scent of the plant is often associated with a sense of comfort and home.
- Healing: Traditionally, geraniums have been used in herbal remedies for their healing properties.
- Balance: The balanced growth and even form of geraniums symbolize stability and equilibrium in life.
- Friendship: With its inviting fragrance and ease of care, geraniums are often given as gifts to signify friendship and deep connections.
- Positive Emotions: The bright colors and pleasant smell of geraniums are said to uplift the mood and bring about positive emotions.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 1-2 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
For the Scented Geranium, water thoroughly whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, which will typically be once a week. Ensure good drainage by allowing excess water to escape, avoiding waterlogged soil. Over winter, reduce watering to every two weeks, giving just enough to prevent the soil from completely drying out. Apply water directly to the soil rather than overhead to help prevent leaf and stem diseases, using roughly 8-16 ounces each time for a medium-sized plant.
Light
Scented Geraniums flourish in bright, indirect light, thriving in an east or west-facing window where the morning or evening sun is gentle. A spot that receives at least 4 to 6 hours of sunlight is ideal, but protect the plant from the harsh midday sun to avoid scorching the leaves.
Temperature
Scented Geraniums prefer temperatures between 65°F and 75°F during the day. Nighttime temperatures should not drop below 50°F. They can tolerate a maximum temperature of around 80°F and a minimum of 40°F. The plant should be kept away from drafts and sudden temperature fluctuations.
Pruning
Prune Scented Geraniums to encourage bushier growth and remove any leggy or dead stems. Pruning is best done in early spring or after flowering. Pinch back the tips of young plants to promote fuller growth, and cut back up to one-third of mature plants. Regularly deadheading spent flowers keeps the plant tidy and may encourage more blooms.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for a Scented Geranium, the common name for Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet', is a well-draining potting mix with added perlite or sand to increase aeration. An ideal pH level for this plant is slightly acidic to neutral, around 6.0 to 7.0. Regular feeding with a balanced fertilizer will keep the plant healthy.
Repotting
Scented Geraniums should be repotted every 1-2 years or when they outgrow their current pot. Use fresh potting mix and a slightly larger pot to encourage healthy growth.
Humidity & Misting
Scented Geraniums prefer moderate humidity levels, but can tolerate lower humidity found in most homes. They do well with humidity levels around 40-60%.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place in bright, indirect light and water when dry.
- Outdoor
  Grow in sunny spot with well-draining soil.
- Hardiness zone
  9-11 USDA
Life cycle
The Pelargonium 'Shottesham Pet', commonly known as Scented Geranium, begins its life cycle when a seed germinates in warm and moist soil conditions. The seedling emerges and grows into a vegetative stage, where it develops a robust root system, stems, leaves, and begins to photosynthesize, preparing for the flowering phase. During the flowering stage, the Scented Geranium produces clusters of small, attractive blooms, typically in the warmer months of the year, attracting pollinators for sexual reproduction. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds, completing the reproductive cycle. As an adult plant, it can also propagate vegetatively through cuttings, allowing gardeners to clone the plant. Over time, the perennial Scented Geranium can become woody at the base, and without proper care, it may enter senescence and eventually die, although with good care it can live for many years.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating the Scented Geranium 'Shottesham Pet' is through stem cuttings. This is typically done in late spring to early summer when the plant's growth is most vigorous. To propagate, a gardener would select a healthy stem about 4 to 6 inches long (10 to 15 centimeters) with at least three sets of leaves. The bottom leaves are removed, and the cut end may be dipped in rooting hormone before being placed in a well-draining potting mix. The cutting should be kept moist but not waterlogged and placed in a warm, bright area without direct sunlight until roots have developed, which can take several weeks. Once rooted, the cutting can be transferred to a larger pot or the garden to grow on.