Citronella Plant

Citronella (Pelargonium citronellum) is widely favored geranium thanks to its wonderful citrusy scent. It will give you an array of fuzzy, textured foliage that when crushed sends off a heavenly aroma. The plant grows to a height of about 2-3 feet and is best suited for USDA growing zones 9-11 as an evergreen perennial but can also be successfully grown in pots/planters if located in colder areas of the U.S. Citronella is also a great contrasting texture to gardens.

Choosing a location: If being ground planted then the best time to add it to your garden would be in the spring season after all the risks of frosts have passed. Try for a spot that gets more morning sun as the afternoon sun tends to be a bit more abrasive. The ideal amount of sun is about six hours a day. Although fairly tolerant of a wide range of soils, citronella prefers a moist, moderately rich soil for the best results.

Planting Directions (in ground):
1) Citronella does best if planted in a slightly acidic (6.5 pH is ideal), light, sandy soil that is well draining.
2) Make your hole twice as wide and just as deep as the container the plant came in. Space your plants about 1-2 feet apart if planting more than one.
3) Water the freshly planted citronella and add about 1-2 inches of chopped bark mulch or pine straw to help conserve soil moisture as well as deter competing weeds and grasses from growing up around it.

Planting Directions (potted):
1) Select a pot that is 8-12 inches wide at the top with multiple drainage holes, drainage is essential.
2) Using a high quality potting mix, fill the pot halfway full. A potting soil with some light amounts of fertilizer can be used.
3) Place your new citronella into the container so that the root ball tip is about 2 inches from the top of the pot. Add your soil so the root ball is at the same depth as its original container then water to settle the soil and eliminate any air pockets.
4) Place the pot in an area that gets full sun to partial shade. A good six hours of direct sun is recommended.

Watering: Keep your soil dampened as the plants get situated. Once they have fully established you should only need to supplement water once weekly during dry periods. For potted citronella, keep the soil evenly moistened without over saturating. You can closely monitor this by using your index finger. Stick it into the potting soil and if it feels dry to the touch, add just enough water to where you see it escaping the drainage holes and stop. If the leaves are turning a brown or yellow color then it is not receiving enough water.

Fertilizing: Ground grown citronella should be fertilized with a balanced fertilizer once monthly which will help support production. Citronella that is grown in pots can benefit from being fertilized monthly with a water-soluble houseplant fertilizer in the spring and summer seasons.

Pruning: Clip back any dead or fading foliage, or trim to desired size/height.