Overview

Discover the delightful world of aromatic gardening with our vibrant lemon verbena live plant. Revered for its intensely fresh, sweet lemon fragrance, Aloysia triphylla (also known as Aloysia citriodora) is a popular shrub that adds both beauty and utility to any garden or patio. This exquisite herb is not only a feast for the senses but also a versatile addition to your culinary endeavors, infusions, and even homemade potpourri. Originating from South America, the lemon verbena live plant thrives in warm climates and can be grown as an annual in cooler regions or overwintered indoors. Its slender, lance-shaped leaves release a powerful citrus scent when brushed or crushed, making it an ideal choice for sensory gardens or high-traffic areas where its fragrance can be enjoyed. Planted in a generous 3 gallon pot, this specimen is well-established and ready to flourish in its new home, promising an abundance of fragrant foliage for years to come.

Key Benefits

The lemon verbena live plant offers a multitude of benefits, making it a cherished choice for gardeners and herbal enthusiasts alike. Its unique qualities extend beyond just its captivating aroma, providing both practical and aesthetic advantages.

• Intense Lemon Fragrance: Enjoy the powerful, sweet, and fresh lemon scent that emanates from the leaves, perfect for enhancing your garden’s ambiance or bringing indoors. This characteristic is what makes fragrant herb plants so desirable.
• Culinary Versatility: The leaves can be used fresh or dried to flavor beverages, desserts, fish, poultry, and vegetable dishes, adding a bright, citrusy note without the acidity of actual lemons.
• Aromatic Applications: Ideal for potpourri, sachets, and essential oil extraction, providing a natural and uplifting aroma for your home.
• Attractive Foliage: Features elegant, elongated green leaves that add a graceful texture to garden beds, containers, or herb gardens.
• Pollinator Attractor: While primarily grown for its leaves, lemon verbena produces small, delicate white to pale purple flowers that can attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.
• Easy to Grow: With proper care, this shrub is relatively low-maintenance and rewarding, adapting well to various growing conditions. Understanding lemon verbena care is straightforward.
• Potential Health Benefits: Traditionally used in herbal teas for its calming properties and digestive aid, contributing to overall well-being.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Ensuring the health and vitality of your lemon verbena live plant involves understanding its specific needs for sunlight, water, soil, and temperature. This plant thrives with attention to these key aspects, allowing it to produce abundant, fragrant foliage. For optimal growth, lemon verbena prefers a location with full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. In very hot climates, a little afternoon shade can be beneficial to prevent leaf scorch. When growing lemon verbena, well-draining soil is crucial to prevent root rot. A high-quality potting mix enriched with organic matter works best for container planting, while garden soil should be amended to improve drainage if heavy clay is present. The ideal pH for lemon verbena is slightly acidic to neutral (6.5-7.0).

Watering should be consistent, especially during dry spells and when the plant is establishing. Allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering thoroughly. Avoid overwatering, as constantly wet soil can lead to problems. Lemon verbena is somewhat drought-tolerant once established but performs best with regular moisture. This plant is typically hardy in USDA Zones 9–11, where it can be grown as a perennial. In cooler zones, it can be grown as an annual or brought indoors before the first frost. Protect it from temperatures below 40°F (4°C). Fertilize your aloysia triphylla every 4-6 weeks during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Pruning in late winter or early spring encourages bushier growth and more leaves. Regular harvesting of leaves also promotes new growth and maintains plant shape.

Size & Details

This offering is for one well-established lemon verbena live plant, measuring approximately 1 to 2 feet tall upon shipment. It arrives securely planted in a 3 gallon nursery pot, providing ample space for its root system to develop and ensuring a healthy start in your garden or container. The plant’s mature size can reach up to 4-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide when grown as a perennial in ideal conditions, though it can be maintained at a smaller size with regular pruning. Lemon verbena has a moderate growth rate, quickly filling out to become a substantial, fragrant shrub. It typically produces its small, delicate flowers in late summer to early autumn. This robust specimen is ready to be transplanted into a larger pot or directly into your garden bed, where it will quickly begin to provide its cherished lemon-scented leaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: This lemon verbena live plant typically grows 4-6 feet tall and 2-3 feet wide at maturity when grown as a perennial. Its size can be managed with pruning.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: The plant ships in a substantial 3 gallon nursery pot, providing a strong root system and a good head start for growth.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Lemon verbena thrives outdoors in full sun in USDA Zones 9-11. In cooler zones, it can be grown outdoors as an annual or brought indoors for winter protection.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For best results, your aloysia triphylla requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Partial afternoon shade is beneficial in extremely hot climates.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, lemon verbena care is relatively straightforward. It requires consistent watering, well-draining soil, and plenty of sunlight. It’s a rewarding plant for gardeners of all levels.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive healthy and well-packaged in its 3 gallon pot, ready for immediate planting. We ensure careful handling during shipment.
• Q: Can I use lemon verbena in cooking? A: Absolutely! The leaves of this fragrant herb plant are excellent for flavoring teas, desserts, poultry, fish, and other culinary dishes.
• Q: When is the best time to plant lemon verbena? A: The best time to plant is in spring after the last danger of frost has passed, allowing the plant ample time to establish before summer.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Lemon verbena is perennial in USDA Zones 9-11. In colder zones, it should be treated as an annual or overwintered indoors in a bright, cool location.
• Q: What type of soil does it prefer? A: This plant prefers well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. A good quality potting mix or garden soil amended with organic matter is ideal for growing lemon verbena.