Lemon Verbena
Aloysia Citrodora

days to maturity: 60 days
plant spacing: 1 plant per square foot
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours
look out for: overwatering
harvest notes: harvest whole branches 6” down
annual

Lemon verbena offers a sweet lemon flavor that’s refreshing in tea or desserts and useful for seasoning meat dishes. Leaves release their refreshing fragrance each time they’re touched, making this herb a good choice for planting near outdoor living areas or paths, where you can enjoy its lemony scent. A native of tropical climes, lemon verbena is perennial in frost-free areas however it often doesn’t survive through a Miami summer. Plant lemon verbena in loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Drainage is a key to success with this herb, which will die if roots stay constantly wet. Lemon verbena also doesn’t like its leaves being constantly wet, so like the other mediterranean herbs (rosemary, oregano, sage) its best to water just the soil, and not often. We always thought you “couldn’t” grow lemon verbena in Miami however one experimental plant that we brought back from NYC a few summers ago thrived in our garden and even survived hurricane irma. Since then we’ve been growing and selling lemon verbena for a few years, and planting it in all types of gardens, and its been doing very well in general, especially when planted in full sun in the fall. This plant is one of our most favorite aromas, its definitely worth making space in the garden or in a pot for this special herb that basically makes everything around it smell like a spa.