Coconut’ is a scented Geranium that brings a delicious scent of citrus with a slight coconut flair to the herb garden. The glossy rounded leaves are irresistible to touch and a slight rub of the dark green leaves releases its pleasing scent. Tiny magenta flowers are nearly insignificant, while the unique form and foliage sets this Scented Geranium apart from others. Low growing with red stems and long internodes makes this Geranium almost resemble a strawberry plant. Use this heavily scented selection in potpourris. Its leaves are easy to dry and their scent is strong and long lasting

‘Lady Plymouth’ is a scented Geranium that brings a delightful, strong, citrus-rose scent to the herb garden. Rubbing its strongly variegated leaves will release its pleasing scent. The wide, deeply serrated foliage has a distinctive edging band of pure white making it stand out even more in your garden. Harvest the leaves by snipping with scissors. Its dense compact form is at home in the garden or container. You can flavor sugar by layering sugar and ‘Lady Plymouth’ leaves in a jar for 3 to 4 weeks. Also, you can dry the leaves for use in potpourri. Read about drying and making teas and potpourri in Sara’s Sage Advice handbook.

A scented geranium with dark curly trident leaved each with a splash of deep maroon in the center of each leaf. When the leaves are crushed or rubbed up against they release a piney scent that is quite nice. Small delicate flowers bloom throught the spring and summer..Harvest the leaves by snipping with scissors. Its slightly spreading form is at home in the container or the herb garden. You can flavor sugar by layering sugar and ‘Pinewood’ leaves in a jar for 3 to 4 weeks. Also, you can dry the leaves for use in potpourri. 

Pelargonium ‘Pine’ has irresistable soft, deep green finely dissected fern-like foliage with a fresh and very distinctive piney scent. From spring through the summer, you’ll enjoy its clusters of small purple flowers with dark red centers. Water regularly as needed, but this plant likes it on the dry side. Don’t use too much compost or organic matter in the soil mix, because it may cause the soil to hold too much water. Monitor container plants grown on south-facing patios for moisture and water all container plants more often than those planted in the garden.

Variegated foliage has irregular golden-lime edges around a dark green center and a citrusy-rose scent. Small lavender-pink flowers add visual charm, while the leaves can be used as garnishes for dishes or as flavor for ice cream, poached fruits or herbal iced tea.

Large green pods hold numerous sweet peas. Don’t worry about shucking these peas the pods are just as tasty. The peas are sweet and crunchy and can be eaten raw or cooked. Plant near or under a trellis for the best production.

This plant has an uglier common name, Rat Stripper, likely from its low, dense, spreading habit and its shiny, deep, evergreen, prickly edged foliage that is held tight to the ground. Despite that ugly common name, Pachistima is an outstanding North American native that forms a superb looking low, nearly ground covering shrub that loves partial shade but will tolerate sun well. It’s a great plant for grouping toward the front on any planting and can be used as a mass planting to great effect. Better yet, Pachistima thrives in sandy, rocky soils that tend to give other plants fits and is perfect for planting in seashore conditions.

This aggressive growing, twining vine with deep green foliage begins bloom in June and continues through the summer, with a unique purple bloom with frilly petals and prominent white center. Strong-growing with few pests. Constant summer color. Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Spectacular when grown in a container on a deck.

The vine of choice for university buildings! A quick grower that adds a look of stateliness wherever it grows. Very similar in habit and growing conditions as quinquefolia with the same excellent fall color and bird attracting fruit.

Here’s a vine that has so much to offer the landscape yet few people know about it. Virginia Creeper is easy to grow and is a perfect plant for sun or partial shade on a trellis, rock wall, or any other sturdy structure. It displays a unique, 5 leaflet palmate, dark green foliage that looks beautiful throughout the growing season and provides great bird and mammal cover and a great food source for the caterpillars of some of our favorite butterflies. This plant’s inconspicuous spring flowers produce a multitude of deep bluish-purple berries that birds find quite attractive. This functional, easy to grow plant also puts on a crimson-red fall foliage show that would make this American Beauties selection worth growing even if the landscape critters didn’t love it!