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Verbenaceae
Lemon Verbena
Aloysia citrodora
Refreshment, attentiveness, citrus delight.
- Family
- Verbenaceae
- Genus
- Aloysia
- Native to
- South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru)
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- Tender shrub
- Height
- 1.5–3 m (5–10 ft)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil
- Average, well-drained
- Water
- Moderate
- Hardiness
- 8–11
- Lifespan
- Tender perennial
Did you know
- Lemon verbena is widely considered the most powerfully lemon-scented plant on Earth—a single brushed leaf releases more lemon aroma than a freshly cut citrus peel.
- Brought from South America to Spain in the 1700s, it was named in honor of Maria Luisa, Princess of Parma and queen of Spain—'aloysia' is the Latinized form of her name.
- The leaves keep their lemon scent for years even when dried—Victorian women carried lemon verbena handkerchiefs and tucked dried sprigs in their hat bands and gloves.
- It's the secret ingredient in many famous European liqueurs, including Argentine Verbena de las Pampas and the French herbal tonic Verveine du Velay.
- The flowers are small and modest, but the leaves are the star—they're used to flavor everything from sorbets and pound cakes to fish sauces and herbal teas across Europe and South America.
Color meanings
0
refreshment
1
attentiveness
2
citrus delight