How To Grow And Care For Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citriodora is the botanical classification name for lemon verbena, which is occasionally referred to as lemon beebrush. Its native roots are South American, specifically from Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, and it made its way to Europe in the 1600s via the ships of Spanish explorers. It wasn't until 1784 that it was first described by a botanist named Antonio Palau. Mature lemon verbena plants will produce rather insignificant flowers, but this is not a plant you generally cultivate for looks. Instead, this is a hardworking medicinal, aromatherapy, and culinary herb. As you may have guessed, this common kitchen companion has a lemony-citrusy scent. According to the North Carolina State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, this is why the word citriodora is used in its botanical classification name.

Much to our chagrin, lemon verbena is included in the Invasive Species Compendium due to its penchant for naturalizing itself to any and every possible environment. This means it does not rely upon humans for cultivation. It spread its own seeds far and wide, thank you very much, and it can propagate itself into a healthy new plant from a tiny piece of stem left sitting around in the sun. While it's considered nothing more than a weed in some regions of the world, most people are pleased with its presence. We like it for its fragrance and flavor. We think its little white flowers are kind of pretty, too. And many of us depend on it for its substantial medicinal and aromatherapeutic properties.

Aloysia citriodora plants can be grown from seed but unless you have to do so, you might want to stick to propagating by other methods instead. Plantura Magazine notes that germination can take quite a few weeks to occur and it is far from guaranteed. Starting with quality seedlings purchased at a trusted nursery or taking cuttings from an already established plant is a better way to go.

To propagate by cutting, you'll be working with new growth, so aim to start your project in the spring or early summer. Make your cut about 6 inches down from the tip of a stem. The piece you remove should be flexible, green, and new growth. If possible, try to cut right where the stem turns to wood. Best practices call for clean and sterilized garden tools to help prevent the spread of disease. Use them to make the initial cut and also to remove all of the leaves except the top few. Consider dipping the cut end of the stem in rooting hormone powder to speed up root development before planting it in the soil. Another tip for creating a more humid and productive growth environment for your soon-to-be-seedling is to cover your planted cutting in plastic.

Now make yourself a cup of lemon verbena tea with all those leaves you removed. Sit back, put your feet up, and relax while you patiently wait about three weeks for roots to appear.

There is only one lemon verbena; however, according to the North Carolina State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, the species that we now know as Aloysia citriodora has gone through many name changes over the years. Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citriodora, Verbena citriodora, and Verbena triphylla are just a few of the botanical classifications that have been assigned to lemon verbena. It's unclear why there have been so many previous names, but rest assured that if you find information on any of those species, they are all referring to the same plant.

The Plant List is a professional database that is busy compiling every single known species of flowering plant as well as others like conifers, ferns, and mosses. So far they've collected more than a million entries, all of which need to be confirmed or accepted. Within the broader Verbena genus, they have registered well over 500 possible species, 124 of which have been confirmed. The most recognized and commonly found is certainly Verbena bonariensis, or purpletop vervain (pictured above). It's that easy-to-grow, ultra-happy purple flower found attracting butterflies to gardens just about everywhere.

A young lemon verbena plant can grow a lot in its first year. If you've kept it going through the winter, either by overwintering indoors or keeping it outside in a warm enough temperature zone, it will most likely be ready for a repotting come spring. On his YouTube channel, Tom Digs This shows how easy it can be to freshen up a root-bound or simply tired plant without even needing a new container. In a few quick and easy steps he removes the entire plant from the pot and shakes loose the old, dried-out soil. He then refills the pot with fresh nutrient-dense compost mixed with perlite for added drainage. The plant goes back into the pot and is covered with more compost, after which it is gently yet thoroughly watered.

That may be all this plant needs to keep thriving. Provided that the last frost has come and gone, it'll be time to get your lemon verbena back outside to bask in direct sunlight where it can come fully out of its winter dormancy and experience a growth spurt as you move toward summer.