Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) is a woody perennial shrub you can add to your garden for delightful teas, lemony fish and poultry dishes, puddings, custards, and syrup. You can also use it to create a fast-growing* lemon-scented hedge.

​*Lemon verbena grown from seed grows slowly. Plants grown from cuttings or dividing grow fast.

​Lemon verbena description

Also known as lemon beebrush, these shrubs can get quite large, growing up to 10 feet tall. Regular pruning can keep them to a manageable size. Leaves are 3” long, glossy, and rough-textured. When bruised, those leaves give off a strong lemon scent. Delicate sprays of tiny purple or white flowers appear in spring, though containerized verbena rarely blossoms. As a South American native, verbena grows best in warm, dry climates. It is frost-sensitive and will lose its leaves when temperatures drop to 32°F. The wood can survive temperatures as low as 14°F.

​But don’t bother using it as herbal medicine. ​Or can you?

Lemon verbena (H. Zell) CC BY-SA 3.0

​Is lemon verbena an effective herbal remedy or not?

​There are numerous claims about the effectiveness of lemon verbena as an herbal remedy for everything from stomach upset, anxiety, and muscle repair to weight loss and joint pain. While claims like these often turn out to be untrue or exaggerated, science is beginning to support at least some of them. The National Institutes of Health published a study concluding that lemon verbena has “promising antioxidant and anti-proliferation effects.” Until we know more about how lemon verbena can improve our health, we can happily grow it at home for other reasons.

How to grow lemon verbena

These plants are drought-tolerant. They grow best in fertile soil with excellent drainage and full sun. Plant seeds, seedlings, or tip cuttings 12-18” apart. In USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-10b, you can grow these plants as perennials. In cooler regions, it can be grown as an annual.

Common pests and diseases of lemon verbena

Aphids, slugs, and snails are the most common pests of lemon verbena. Leaf miners, mealybugs, spider mites, thrips, and whiteflies may also cause problems. Yellow sticky sheets can significantly reduce populations of these pests. These plants also experience root rots, which can be avoided by allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. Other potential diseases of lemon verbena include gray mold, powdery mildew, spotted wilt, and Verticillium wilt. Again, monitor soil moisture levels and avoid overhead watering.

Add this lemony fresh herb to your landscape for years of delicious flavor and showy flowers.