description
Lemon verbena is a perennial shrub or subshrub of the Verbenaceae family
that grows to 2–3 m high. The 8 cm long glossy, pointed leaves are slightly
rough to the touch and when bruised they emit a powerful scent reminiscent of lemon.
The lemon verbena plant is sensitive to cold. It will lose leaves at temperatures below 0 °C
(32 °F). Leaves are opposite or in whorls of three. Plants will grow to
10-15’ tall in the tropics, but can be limited to to 2-4’ tall in containers.
Aromatic, white to pale lilac flowers will bloom from mid-summer to early fall, but they have little
ornamental significance; and note that cntainer plants may not bloom at all. Plants are
evergreen in tropical/warm winter locations but deciduous in areas where
freezing temperatures occur.
common names & nomenclature
The common names with “lemon” are (as you might deduce) in reference to the lemon scent given off when the leaves are bruised.
Also known as:
aloysia triphylla, lippia citriodora, lippia triphylla, verbena citriodora and verbena triphylla, lemon verbena, lemon beebrush, lemon bee bush, vervain