Aloysia citriodora
Aloysia citriodora (syn. Aloysia triphylla / Lippia citriodora)
Lemon verbena
- Position: full sun
- Soil: well-drained soil
- Flowering period: August-September
- Height: 2m
- Foliage: deciduous
- Hardiness: needs winter protection
Varieties
Aloysia citriodora
Lemon verbena, also known as Aloysia citriodora, is a popular shrub and it is not hard to see why. It bears strongly lemon-scented leaves and produces spikes of tiny, white or pale lilac flowers in late summer.
The leaves make a delicious tea but you can also add the aromatic leaves to salads and ice cream. Lemon verbena, grown in a pot, will reach a height of 1m.
If you are growing lemon verbena in the open ground, expect a height of 2m.
Lemon verbena in the open ground Young Lemon verbena plant
Pruning
When and how to prune lemon verbena ( Aloysia citriodora). Prune this shrub in April to stimulate new growth. Cut back all of the previous year’s growth to 15-20cm above ground level, pruning to just above a leaf bud.
How do you overwinter Lemon verbena
Lemon verbena comes from South America. So the plant needs winter protection in cold areas.
Lemon verbena grown in the open ground. Cover the base of the plant with a thick layer of dry winter mulch to reduce frost penetration.
Lemon verbena grown in a container. Place the pot where it is protected from cold winds. If sharp frost is forecast, cover the outside of the pot with bubble wrap to protect the roots from freezing.
How to grow and care for chives. See Chives
