Pelargoniums an Herb Society of America Guide
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Pelargoniums An Herb Society of America Guide The Herb Society of America 9019 Kirtland Chardon Rd. Kirtland, Ohio 44094 © 2006 The Herb Society of America Pelargoniums: An Herb Society of America Guide Table of Contents Introduction …………………………………………………………….…. 3 Contributors & Acknowledgements ……………………………………… 3 Description & Taxonomy ..………………………………………………... 8 Chemistry …………………………………………………………………. 10 Nutrition …………………………………………………………………... 10 History & Folklore ………………………………………………………… 10 Literature & Art …………………………………………………………… 12 Cultivation ………………………………………………………………… 13 Pests & Diseases …………………………………………………………... 19 Pruning & Harvesting ……………………………………………………… 20 Preserving & Storing ………………………………………………………. 21 Uses ………………………………………………………………………... 21 - Culinary Uses ………………………………………………… 21 - Recipes ………………………………………………… 23 - Craft Uses ……………………………………………………. 40 - Cosmetic Uses ……………………………………………….. 41 - Recipes ……………………………………………….. 42 - Medicinal & Ethnobotanical Uses & Aromatherapy ………... 43 - Garden Uses ………………………………………………….. 47 - Other Uses …………………………………………………... 48 Species Highlights …..……………………………………………………… 49 Cultivar Examples …………………………………………………………. 57 Literature Citations & References ………………………………………... 62 HSA Library Pelargonium Resources …...………………………………… 68 © The Herb Society of America - 9019 Kirtland Chardon Rd., Kirtland, OH, 44094 - (440) 256-0514 - http://www.herbsociety.org 2 Pelargoniums: An Herb Society of America Guide Introduction Mission: The Herb Society of America is dedicated to promoting the knowledge, use and delight of herbs through educational programs, research, and sharing the experience of its members with the community. Environmental Statement: The Society is committed to protecting our global environment for the health and well-being of humankind and all growing things. We encourage gardeners to practice environmentally sound horticulture. Purpose, Scope and Intended Audience: This guide was designed to provide an overview of the cultivation, chemistry, description, history, folklore and uses of herbal plants in the genus Pelargonium. It was written to accommodate a variety of audiences, providing basic information appropriate for beginners to herbs and herb gardening as well as supplemental information for more experienced herb enthusiasts. It can be used in conjunction with HSA’s Herb Study Groups Resource Kit or as a starting point for those interested in pursuing individual research or developing an herbal presentation/program. Disclaimer: Information is provided as an educational service. Mention of commercial products does not indicate an endorsement by The Herb Society of America. The Herb Society of America cannot advise, recommend, or prescribe herbs for medicinal use. Please consult a health care provider before pursuing any herbal treatments. Contributors & Acknowledgements Text by Michele Meyers, HSA Director of Education, except where otherwise noted © 2006 The Herb Society of America Horticultural advisor: Robin Siktberg, HSA Editor/Horticulturist Contributors The Herb Society of America would like to thank the following contributors, without whose expertise and input this guide would not have been possible: James Adams Jim Adams has been gardening and growing herbs since childhood. He earned his horticulture degree from Michigan State University. He completed numerous internships at some of the country's premier horticultural institutions before becoming the Assistant Curator of the Fern Valley Native Plant Collection at the U.S. National Arboretum. In 1997, he changed posts and became Curator of the National Herb Garden, also at the arboretum. Jim is a member of the Potomac Unit of The Herb Society of America, as well as various other horticulture-related organizations and was awarded HSA's Nancy Putnam Howard Award for Excellence in Horticulture in 2004. He is currently Horticulturist at © The Herb Society of America - 9019 Kirtland Chardon Rd., Kirtland, OH, 44094 - (440) 256-0514 - http://www.herbsociety.org 3 Pelargoniums: An Herb Society of America Guide the British Embassy in Washington, D.C. Caroline Amidon Caroline Amidon has been studying and growing pelargoniums for years, and she and Joyce Brobst maintain an HSA-registered Pelargonium collection in Pennsylvania. Caroline served as president of HSA from 1996-1998 and is a member of the Philadelphia Unit and Rosemary Circle. She received HSA’s Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor and the Nancy Putnam Howard Award for Excellence in Horticulture. She has co-authored articles on pelargoniums in The Herbarist and Green Scene as well as the book, Pelargonium: 2006 Herb of the Year, written with Pat Crocker and Joyce Brobst. In addition to her HSA membership, Caroline is a member of the Hardy Plant Society, the International Geranium Society and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and has served as herb judge at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Gwen Barclay Gwen is Director of Food Services at The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas. A member of both the Pioneer Unit and the South Texas Unit of HSA, she is a nationally recognized expert on herbs and herbal cuisine. Gwen and her mother, Madalene Hill, are co-authors of Southern Herb Growing, and were awarded HSA’s Gertrude B. Foster Award for Excellence in Herbal Literature in 2005. James H. Barrow, Ph.D. A biology professor and long-time gardening enthusiast, James Barrow received his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1951. His academic posts included serving as Professor and Chairman of the Biology Department at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama, and Chairman of the Biology Department at Hiram College in Ohio. In 1967, he founded the Hiram College Biological Field Station, a 126-acre site dedicated to undergraduate research, which was later renamed the Hiram College James H. Barrow Field Station. A Master Gardener, Dr. Barrow started and directed a mentor program to involve children ages 13- to 15-years old with plants and gardening. Along with his wife, HSA Past President Jamie Barrow, he helped create and maintain the Hiram Public Gardens, one of which is named in his honor. Dr. Barrow was a member of The Herb Society of America for over 10 years and maintained an HSA-registered Pelargonium collection in Cincinnati, Ohio. Susan Belsinger Susan Belsinger is a culinary educator, food writer and photographer whose articles have been published in Woman's Day, Organic Gardening, Victoria Magazine and The Herb Companion. She is the author of Not Just Desserts--Sweet Herbal Recipes, Flowers in the Kitchen, co-author, with Carolyn Dille, of The Garlic Book, Herbs in the Kitchen, and The Greens Book, and co-author of Basil: An Herb Lover's Guide with Thomas DeBaggio. Susan is a member of the Potomac Unit of The Herb Society of America and the 2006 recipient of the Joanna McQuail Reed Award for the Artistic Use of Herbs. Joyce Brobst Joyce Brobst is a longtime Pelargonium grower and enthusiast. She is a member of HSA’s Pennsylvania Heartland Unit and was president of The Herb Society of America from 1998-2000. She is also a member of the International Geranium Society, the Hardy Plant Society and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and serves as a horticultural judge at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Joyce holds B.S. and M.Ed. degrees in biology, an M.S. in education, and taught high school biology for 25 years. She currently teaches botany, biology and environmental science at the Reading Area Community College. © The Herb Society of America - 9019 Kirtland Chardon Rd., Kirtland, OH, 44094 - (440) 256-0514 - http://www.herbsociety.org 4 Pelargoniums: An Herb Society of America Guide Joyce has co-authored articles on pelargoniums appearing in The Herbarist and Green Scene as well as the book, Pelargonium: 2006 Herb of the Year. Joyce and fellow Pelargonium enthusiast, Caroline Amidon, maintain a collection of over 75 Pelargonium species, hybrids and cultivars. Joyce received the Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor in 2006. Jane Cole Jane Cole started growing herbs because she was fascinated with their many scents and has been a member of HSA for 21 years. She owned and operated a herb and aromatherapy business for 12 years, has taught classes at Boerner Botanic Gardens and Green Bay Botanical Garden and has presented programs for many garden clubs and organizations. Jane helped design and plant herb gardens at Fort Howard Hospital, Hazelwood House and the Green Bay Botanical Garden. She lives in DePere, Wisconsin, and is a member of the Wisconsin Unit of The Herb Society of America. Karen England Edgehill Herb Farm in Vista, California, is the home-based business of herb enthusiast Karen England. In addition to being a member at large of The Herb Society of America, Karen is the President of the Vista Garden Club and on the board of The International Herb Association. She is a popular garden speaker and teacher of cooking with herbs and edible flowers in the San Diego, CA area, specializing in the art of cooking with lavender, roses and scented geraniums. Madalene Hill Madalene was president of The Herb Society of America from 1986-1988 and has been a member since 1957. She organized the South Texas Unit and was a charter member of the Pioneer Unit. Madalene was awarded HSA's Helen de Conway Little Medal of Honor in 1978 and the Gertrude B. Foster Award for Excellence in Herbal Literature in 2005. She is an accomplished plantswoman, and her garden at The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, Texas, attracts visitors from all over the world. She is