Jesse Saylor
Family
Verbenaceae
Botanical Name
Aloysia triphylla
Plant Common Name
Lemon Verbena
General Description
Lemon verbena to North American gardeners, Herb Louisa to European gardeners, Aloysia triphylla is a tender deciduous shrub grown for the odor of its leaves, an extraordinarily pleasant and sweet lemony scent released by untouched leaves and by bruised or crushed leaves alike. The flowers, which appear in late Spring, are white to pale lavender and insignificant and the ornamental value of the plant lies in its canopy of narrow leaves.
Lemon verbena grows best on well-drained, slightly poor alkaline soil but tolerates a range of average soils. It needs regular moisture to remain leafy. In warm climates, it needs a little shade and can become a large, lanky shrub. Prune it regularly to keep it in bounds and to prompt new growth and fresh crops of leaves. In temperate to cool climates, it grows best in full sun, dies back over winter and remains a small shrub. Where not hardy, it can be grown in a container and brought indoors for the winter. Where hardy, it can also be grown as a herbaceous perennial by pruning it to the ground in winter. This is a handy way to grow the plant in a limited space or small yard and have the fragrance where you want it.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 8
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USDA Hardiness Zone
8 - 11
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Plant Type
Shrub
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
0'-10' / 0.0m - 3.0m
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Bloom Time
Late Summer
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Native To
Argentina, Chile
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Neutral, Alkaline
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Clay, Loam
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Spreading
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
White
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Green
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Bark Color
Brown
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
Yes
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Flower Petal Number
Single
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
No
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
