Lemon Verbena
Aloysia citrodora
Lemon verbena is a woody shrub with narrow leaves that have one of the strongest, cleanest lemon scents of any herb. The leaves are used for tea, desserts and drinks.
Photo: H. Zell · CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Moderate
Water when the top of the soil is dry; avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Light, well-drained soil; pH 6.0–7.5.
Temperature and humidity
2–35 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed monthly in the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings
Pinch tips often, and cut back by half in late winter.
Safe as a tea herb for people. It can upset the stomachs of cats and dogs.
Top Cultivation Tips
Grow near a path to brush past the leaves.
Dried leaves keep their scent for a year.
Can lose leaves in cold weather and regrow.
Take cuttings in spring.
Common problems
Root rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestSpider mites
Tiny sap-sucking mites that thrive in hot, dry conditions, causing speckled, dull leaves and fine webbing.
How to treat it →PestWhiteflies
Small white flying insects that gather under leaves, sucking sap, spreading viruses and leaving sticky honeydew.
How to treat it →
