Lemon verbena should be an herb garden staple for its citrus-scented leaves.
Lemon verbena(Aloysia citriodora) is a tender perennial grown as a culinary herb.
it’s possible for you to also use lemon verbena leaves tomake herbal teaor cocktails.
Credit:Holly Shimizu
Grow it as a perennial inUSDA Zones8 through 11 or as an annual in colder climates.
Choose a location that receives full sun daily and plant in well-draining soil.
you might also plant lemon verbena in containers outside your backdoor for garden-fresh flavor steps from the kitchen.
Credit: Robert Cardillo
The fastest and easiest way to grow lemon verbena is with a starter plant from a nursery.
Plant it in a prepared bed ofrich, well-draining soilat the same depth it was in its nursery container.
Lemon verbena grows from a transplant to a sprawling plant in a single season.
Credit: Denny Schrock
Light
Lemon verbena grows best infull sun at least six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Soil and Water
Plant lemon verbena in organically rich, well-drained soil with apH of 6.5.
Clay or soggy soil causes the roots to rot and the plant to die.
Credit: Marty Baldwin
Once established, lemon verbena can withstand occasional dry conditions, but it does best with consistent watering.
Its native to South America, where it grows in a sunny, frost-free environment.
When the temperature falls below 40F, outdoor plants drop their leaves and go dormant.
When the temperature falls below 32F, the plant dies.
If you want to keep the plant growing year-round, move it indoors when the temperature goes below 45F.
Lemon verbena becomes untidy over the summer, soremove spent flowersand dead foliage as needed.
Potting and Repotting
When grown in a container, lemon verbena stays 23 feet tall.
Select a container with drain holes and fill it with well-draining garden soil or potting soil.
Inside, position the plant where it receives as much sunlight as possible.
Instead of repotting each year, trim the plant by a third to keep the size manageable.
When you do repot, use fresh soil.
Mist indoor plants frequently to mimic tropical conditions and add a plant light.
Poorly drained soil can lead to root rot, killing the plant.
Remove the foliage from the bottom half of each cutting and dip the ends in rooting hormone.
Harvesting Lemon Verbena
Pick lemon verbera leaves as needed for cooking throughout the growing season.
Leaves are at their most flavorful when the plant has flowered.
you could also preserve leaves by drying them in a food dehydrator.
An essential ingredient in many recipes,aromatic dillthrives in the same sunny growing conditions as lemon verbena.
Its feathery leaves look great next to the shiny, spear-shaped leaves of lemon verbena.
Zinnias
Why stick to other edibles?
Mix it up by plantingzinniasalongside lemon verbena.
The best thing about zinnias?
Theyre super easy to grow from seed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lemon verbena and lemon balm(Melissa officinalis)have similar culinary uses.
On the plus side, lemon balm tolerates more shade than lemon verbena.
In optimal conditions, it spreads as wide as it is tall.
In frost-free areas, that is 8 feet by 8 feet.
