Lemon verbena is a perennial shrub with narrow, lance-shaped leaves that are highly fragrant and emit a strong citrus scent when crushed. The leaves are bright green and can reach up to 8 inches in length. The small, white flowers have five petals and bloom in the summertime. Lemon verbena is native to South America, but it is now widely cultivated in Europe and North America. It is often used as an ornamental plant or in cooking, as its leaves impart a strong lemon flavor to foods and drinks.
Planning Your Garden With Lemon Verbena
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Lemon verbena is a perennial. |
| USDA Zone | Lemon verbena is hardy in USDA Zones 8-11. |
| Cold Tolerance | Lemon verbena is a tender perennial, meaning it is not cold hardy and can only tolerate temperatures down to 32. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest lemon verbena is 90 days. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown lemon verbena plant is between 3 and 5 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide. |
| Spacing requirements | Lemon verbena should be planted in well-draining soil in a spot that receives full sun. When planting multiple lemon verbena plants, leave at least 3 feet of space between each plant to ensure proper air circulation. |
| Sun tolerance | Lemon verbena is considered to be a sun-loving plant, and it thrives in full sun locations. It prefers at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, although it can tolerate some partial shade. |
| Shade tolerance | Lemon verbena is considered to be a full sun plant that prefers 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is tolerant of partial shade, but will not perform as well if grown in too much shade. |
| Water requirements | Lemon verbena requires full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Water regularly, providing 1-1.5 inches of water per week. Avoid letting the soil become too soggy, as this can lead to root rot. If the soil becomes too dry, the leaves may start to droop. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing lemon verbena depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 should be applied at a rate of 1-2 tablespoons per gallon of soil. If the soil is very poor, you may need to increase the amount of fertilizer used. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing lemon verbena is 6.0-7.0. |
Why Lemon Verbena is Popular
People like to grow lemon verbena because of its strong lemon scent and flavor. It is often used to make tea, and its leaves can be used to flavor dishes, drinks, and desserts. The plant is also attractive and easy to grow, making it a popular addition to gardens.
Companion Plants For Lemon Verbena
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for lemon verbena include:
Common Pests For Lemon Verbena
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow lemon verbena, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- leaf miners
- aphids
- whiteflies
- spider mites
- mealybugs
- scale insects
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
