Aloysia Species, Lemon Verbena, Verveine Odorante

My verbena has done well in a large planter on the deck, but will soon have to move because of the size. Near the the base, a branch h...Read Moreas sprouted off the main plant that looks just like a branch from a hydrangea plant. Any ideas or is this common. I have checked several times, but it is in fact, coming from my verbena and not a volunteer gowning close by

Overwintered successfully and is now almost six feet tall! We had an unusually warm winter here in MD (zone 7) and even though the plant ...Read Morelargely died back it has more than made up for that with new growth--it even flowered heavily in midsummer with attractive airy white spikes of tiny flowers. But it's the leaves that are worth growing it for--just an incredible fragrance when they are rubbed or crushed. Great near a path!

I am interested to see if this will live through a more typical chilly winter here. I grow mine in full sun, very sandy soil, and rather dry conditions near some old brick/concrete masonry that has eroded into the soil, probably making the soil pH on the alkaline side, but I have not checked. It seems very happy!

I just wanted to add that my sister swears lemon verbena tea will cure just about anything that ails you. I have drank a tea made from t...Read Morehe dried leaves for many years with no ill effects. It has a wonderful flavor. I cut it back by about 2/3rds in late summer saving all the leaves and it always comes back in Spring.

We are having a major cold spell in CO right now (zone 5b)! I am so glad I brought the lemon verbena bush inside after I trimmed it prett...Read Morey low to the ground in late summer/autumn. I also took a cutting which at first grew fine but then did not make it after all. The trimmed and potted parent plant at first lost its leaves which was expected but it redeveloped fresh green leaves in abundance since so it looks like a healthy small plant with pretty strong branches and lots of fresh green foliage in the middle of winter but indoors. I bought it in late spring last year in the herb section of a local garden center it was a small pot and it grew into a pretty nice small bush from which I could harvest quite a few leaves for tea and such. I bought it for its great fragrance (lemony when you sniff or brush it) but I was not too impressed by its growth pattern, not upright like the Pineapple Sage but sort of low growing and sprawling but I like how compact it was when it brought it inside for the winter after I gave it a good trim. I recommend it for Denver, CO but to be safe bring it inside over the winter months and its a low maintenance choice that is useful. If you mix the dried leaves with spearmint or peppermint and lemon balm it makes a really pleasant tea. I did not see it bloom here this year. I like it potted or outside in the garden, its very versatile and not fuzzy. Fragrant!

Half hardy for me, and I've lost it occasionally (replaced). Being in a temperate zone, I don't give much thought to winter protection. ...Read More Very fragrant and a pretty herb.

Consider using long sleeves when working with this plant if you are sensitive to irritants. It can cause horrible itching. If you notice ...Read Moreit, wash with mild soap right away to lessen the effects.

I have had a lemon verbena plant in my garden for three years now. It has overwintered fine. I usually put a leaf mulch over it for the...Read More winter. It dies back to the ground every winter but has always come back. I live in USDA Zone 5b.

I overwintered this plant indoors and only have a north facing window... I just took cuttings now for outside in a few weeks... the leave...Read Mores dropped off by thanksgiving and I lightly watered once a week... the plant before taking the cuttings was about 6 inches long... looks nice and healthy

I bought Lemon Verbena as tube stock and planted in a pot where it seem to do nothing. I decided to put it in the ground and when I took ...Read Moreit out of the pot, it was a mass of roots!! I put it in the ground in spring and by early summer it shot up about 4' by about 2' wide!! Flowered all summer and loved being dead-headed. We had a very hot, dry summer and it didn't even blink! The leaves make a great hot or iced tea. Worth growing.

This is by far my favorite plant. I purchased a young plant at a local native gardening center (Houston, Texas) last summer. The plant ...Read Morehas grown well in a container, though it lost most of its leaves last winter. I have it on my patio, where it receives filtered sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon, and is otherwise shaded. It leafed out well last spring and throughout the summer, until now. To my dismay, the plant seems to have gone into shock! I suspect I went a little too heavy on plant food during a recent watering. The leaves have yellowed, wilted, and are falling away.

Here in Portland, OR, my lemon verbena is flourishing. In only a few short months, it has about doubled in size, tolerating clay soil and...Read More a few short periods of drought. Small sprigs of white flowers showed up in July.The flowers have a subtle, sweet fragrance and the leaves pack a lemony punch. It can get a little leggy, so I prune it often and enjoy it as part of an herbal infusion (just search the web for a plethora of lemon verbena tea recipes). Lemon verbena is a great alternative to lemon balm, which can be invasive, and I think the flavor is much cleaner.

I have only one lemon verbena and it flowers and keeps coming back year after year. It gets about 6 feet tall, and is loaded with blooms ...Read MoreJune through September. It is very aromatic. I haven't used it to cook with, but it does wonderfully in cut flower arrangements and will release its wonderful lemony smell throughout the room.

this plant thrives on neglect! I grew it in a large pot, recieved sun in mornings and late afternoon. shade at midday to around 2. (north...Read More side of house) watered it frequently, it seemed to require more water that most of my herbs. wonderful smell! and it won the champion perennial herb at the Illinois state fair!!!!!!!!

One of my favourite herbs with a wonderfull lemon scent..very yummy in dishes..it releases its flavour very well in milk. You can make a ...Read Morevery yummy ice-cream with it. I grow it in full ground and it stays there, although sheltered by a huge rosemary bush, during wintertime.. Untill now overwintering outside has been no problem..in spring I trim it a little back to keep it compact. Edited to mention that it has survived heavy frosts last winter with temps down to -18 C...remarkable !
Besides the wonderfull cullinairy uses Lemon Verbena is a herb that de-stresses & relaxes. Has a tonic effect on the nervous system, a natural de-stresser, relaxing, helps soothe bronchial & nasal congestion, indigestion, flatulence, stomach cramps, nausea. It gives a good tea to drink. BUT....don't drink to much of it in one time..special because of it relaxing effects it can be dangerous to drive or handling machines if you take to many of it.

Great in potpourri. Full sun in cool climates, light shade in warm. Fertilize once a month. May shrivel at the end of winter, but will co...Read Moreme back up in early spring here. I love putting it in my hot or ice tea, nice lemony flavor, I sometimes use it along with my Orange Geranium, yummy, then remove before drinking.

I have not got the plant as yet, but next year I will be getting a plant or two. I found out about the plant late this, so I am plannin...Read Moreg of getting one or two next year
Claude

In my western Washington zone 9a (most maps show it as zone 8) garden this has been hardy for me outdoors for the last four years. The u...Read Morepper part of the plant dies back somewhat in winter, but it resprouts from the lower stems. It flowers here in July and August.

Supposedly this is a zone 9-10 plant, but I have successfully overwintered lemon verbena in the ground in my zone 7 (almost 8) garden. I...Read Moret looses all of it's leaves dies all the way back to the ground. I leave about 12 inches of the dead wood and leaves on top of it to protect it through the winter. Then as spring arrives I cut it back harder and the next thing I know, she is growing again! It's lovely and fragrand, but does not flower here for me.

Lemon verbena is best propagated by stem cuttings; seed is seldom produced. Although it is frost-tender, this plant will not grow well i...Read Moren hot, humid climates unless it is given some shade from midday sun.

This is a wonderful tender perennial with a heavenly scent of lemons. By far the most lemony of any of the herbs. It is great for potpour...Read Moreri, or to flavor teas, fruits, and cookies. Bruise the leaves and add to sugar overnight. Sift out the leaves and use sugar for cookies, cake or whatever.