How to Grow Orkney Cherry Geranium
Orkney Cherry Geranium
Pelargonium 'Orkney Cherry'
flowerOrkney Cherry is a scented-leaf geranium cultivar prized for its attractive foliage and delicate pink flowers. This compact perennial features finely textured, deeply lobed leaves with a subtle cherry-like fragrance when brushed. It's ideal for containers, windowsills, and ornamental gardens where its ornamental foliage and continuous blooms can be appreciated.
When should you plant Orkney Cherry Geranium in your zone?
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Example Orkney Cherry Geranium timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Orkney Cherry Geranium
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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First Orkney Cherry Geranium blooms
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Orkney Cherry Geranium dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9-11; grow as an annual or houseplant in cooler zones
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Get my Orkney Cherry Geranium timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves developing; very delicate with soft stems
Provide bright light, keep soil lightly moist but not waterlogged, ensure good air circulation to prevent damping-off
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksPlant develops multiple stems and deeply lobed leaves with visible cherry scent when touched; compact, bushy form
Pinch growing tips to encourage branching, maintain consistent moisture, apply dilute fertilizer bi-weekly, ensure excellent drainage
Pre-flowering
2-3 weeksFlower buds begin forming in clusters (umbels) above the foliage; plant reaches mature height
Continue light fertilizing, maintain even soil moisture, provide maximum sunlight, reduce nitrogen to promote blooming
Flowering
8-12 weeks or until frostDelicate pink or white flowers with darker veining bloom in loose clusters; blooms appear continuously under good conditions
Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooms, maintain regular watering and feeding schedule, monitor for pests and diseases
Dormancy/Overwintering
3-4 monthsPlant growth slows dramatically in cold months; foliage may decline; flowering typically stops
Reduce watering significantly, move indoors or protect from frost in zones below 10, stop fertilizing, prune back leggy growth in spring
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity, spray foliage with water, apply neem oil or insecticidal soap, ensure good air circulation
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Yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap, neem oil, remove heavily infested leaves
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Dab with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab, spray with neem oil, isolate infected plants, improve air circulation
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Remove affected leaves immediately, improve air circulation, reduce humidity, avoid overhead watering, apply fungicide if severe
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Reduce watering frequency, improve ventilation, remove affected plant parts, apply fungicide, avoid crowding plants
Uses
Tea and flavoring
CulinaryYoung leaves can be steeped into a mild, cherry-scented herbal tea with subtle fruity notes. The leaves also make an interesting flavoring for desserts, beverages, and sugar. [source]
Fragrance and aromatics
HouseholdDried leaves release a pleasant cherry-like aroma when brushed or handled, making them ideal for potpourri, sachets, and dried arrangements. Fresh leaves can be used in floral arrangements. [source]
Container and specimen gardening
OrnamentalIts compact, bushy habit and attractive deeply lobed foliage make it perfect for small containers, windowsills, and ornamental displays. Works well in mixed container compositions. [source]
Craft and creative uses
CraftPressed flowers and leaves can be used in crafts, floral pressing projects, and botanical art. Leaves are often used for scented bookmark or craft projects. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe delicate pink flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, making it a valuable plant for pollinator gardens and attracting beneficial insects. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pinch or cut leaves anytime once the plant is established (after 4-5 weeks) for culinary or aromatic use. Harvest in the morning for best fragrance. Cut just above a leaf node to encourage bushier growth. Deadhead spent flower clusters regularly to extend blooming season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Orkney Cherry geraniums are members of the Pelargonium genus, not true geraniums (Geranium), despite being commonly called geraniums.
- 🌱 Scented-leaf geraniums like Orkney Cherry contain essential oils in their leaves that release fragrance when touched or brushed, a mechanism that may have evolved to deter insects.
- 🌱 This cultivar originated in the Orkney Islands (Scotland), where the cool maritime climate helped develop its compact, hardy character, making it one of the hardier scented geranium varieties.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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