Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Lemon Verbena
Latin Name: Aloysia citrodora
Alternate Names: Lippia citriodora (synonym)
Hardiness Zones: Tender shrub. Often grown as a perennial in mild climates and treated as a container or annual where winters are cold. Protect or move indoors before hard freezes.
Typical Height: Usually 3–6 ft (90–180 cm) in cultivation; can be taller in frost free climates
Typical Spread: Often 3–4 ft (90–120 cm) wide when mature unless kept pruned
Bloom Period: Summer to early fall in many climates
Soil Preferences: Well drained, fertile to average garden soil. Tolerates a range of soils but dislikes waterlogged conditions. Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline pH but tolerates slightly acidic soil.
Light Preferences: Full sun to part shade. Best fragrance and foliage density in full sun.
Toxicity: No widespread reports of severe toxicity but verify with local poison control. Essential oils may irritate skin and concentrated ingestion may cause upset.
Propagation: Easily propagated by softwood or semi-ripe cuttings. Can be grown from seed or by layering. Cuttings give faster true to type plants.

Key Facts

Aromatic lemon scented leaves commonly used fresh or dried for tea and flavoring
Typically grown as a tender shrub that is evergreen in warm climates and deciduous or winter damaged in cold climates
Produces spikes of small white to pale lilac flowers in summer that attract bees and other pollinators
Prefers full sun to part shade and develops the best scent in sunnier sites
Needs well drained soil and will decline in waterlogged conditions
Easily propagated from softwood or semi-ripe cuttings
Responds well to pruning to keep a compact shape and encourage fresh fragrant growth
Often grown in containers where winters are cold so plants can be moved indoors

Lemon Verbena is an aromatic shrub grown for its lemon scented leaves used fresh or dried for tea and cooking. It gives summer spikes of small white to pale lilac flowers that attract pollinators and performs best in sunny, well drained sites where its fragrance is strongest.

Identification

Leaves are strongly lemon scented and are the main ornamental and culinary feature. Plants typically reach about 3 to 6 feet tall in cultivation and form a bushy shrub 3 to 4 feet wide when mature. Summer blooms appear as spikes of small white to pale lilac flowers that draw bees and other pollinators.

Best uses and where to grow

Grow Lemon Verbena as a fragrant hedge, specimen shrub or kitchen container plant for easy leaf harvest. Use fresh or dried leaves for tea and flavoring. It prefers full sun to part shade and produces the best scent in the sun. In colder areas keep plants movable so they can avoid hard freezes.

Planting and spacing

Choose a sunny, sheltered spot with well drained soil and allow about 3 to 4 feet between plants for a mature bushy habit. Set plants at the same depth as the nursery container and firm soil around the root ball. Mulch to conserve moisture but avoid creating a waterlogged root environment.

Watering and soil

Lemon Verbena dislikes wet feet and will decline in waterlogged conditions. Provide regular water until established then water as needed to keep soil evenly moist but not saturated. It grows well in fertile to average garden soils and prefers neutral to slightly alkaline conditions while tolerating slightly acidic sites.

Pruning and after flowering care

Prune to maintain a compact shape and to encourage fresh fragrant growth; light trimming after flowering keeps plants neat and productive. Remove damaged winter wood in spring and cut back up to one third of overall growth to rejuvenate older shrubs. Regular pruning reduces legginess in warm climates.

Propagation

Propagate easily by softwood or semi ripe cuttings for fast, true to type results. Seed and layering are alternative methods but take longer. Take cuttings in warm months, root them in a free draining mix and transplant when established to preserve the parent plant characteristics.

Containers and winter care

Commonly grown in containers where winters are cold so plants can be moved indoors or to a protected spot before hard freezes. Container culture also limits spread and allows root inspection to prevent waterlogging. Reduce watering and avoid cold drafts when overwintering inside.

Controlling spread

Plants form bushy clumps roughly 3 to 4 feet wide unless kept pruned. Control spread by regular pruning, root restriction in containers or removing layered shoots. Good drainage and occasional trimming prevent trampling nearby plants and keep the shrub from becoming too large for its space.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Lemon Verbena grow?: Growth rate varies with climate and care. Plants commonly reach about 3 to 6 feet in cultivation. In mild, frost free areas they can grow larger when given sun, water and fertility.
Are the leaves edible?: Yes. Leaves are used fresh or dried for tea and for flavoring in cooking. Harvest leaves as needed and use younger shoots for the best fragrance.
How do I overwinter Lemon Verbena?: In cold areas grow plants in containers and move them indoors or to a sheltered location before hard freezes. In milder climates plants may remain evergreen with protection from severe winter cold.
How do I propagate Lemon Verbena?: Best propagated from softwood or semi ripe cuttings for quick, true to type plants. Seed and layering also work but take longer to produce mature shrubs.
Will it flower in shade?: It tolerates part shade but produces the best scent, foliage density and flowering in full sun. Reduced sun typically means fewer flowers and a weaker fragrance.