Aloysia citrodora
Lemon verbena, Cidron, Limonetta
Also known as Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citriodora
- Height × spread
- 2.5m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This plant is primarily grown for its lovely, lemon scented foliage, the perfume being released when the rough leaves are crushed. It has long, sea green leaves and sparsely clad, floating panicles of tiny, lavender blue flowers that are produced in midsummer. It flowers unreliably, but the flowers, when they appear, have an fleeting charm. It makes a loose spreading shrub. But it is rather tender so it is a good candidate for a warm, south-facing wall. If it is cut to the ground by a severe winter it will often shoot again in the spring. The leaves can be dried for use in pot pourri and the essential oils are used in aromatherapy.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Purple
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 2.5m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Height in 10 years
- 1.5m
- Spread in 10 years
- 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Small scale garden, Scented garden, Mediterranean garden, Herb garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal), Poor soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Mild winter to -5C (RHS H3)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Wall cover, Structural, Sensory garden (tactile)
- Walls
- South facing
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
AutumnNow
Autumn - late · Outdoors
Apply a protective mulch
Protect the crown of the plant in winter in areas that are prone to frost and cold. For short term protection a fleece can be used, otherwise fill mesh sacks with masses of straw and secure them over the plant's crown.
The 'traditional method' is to put wire or other netting over the plant, layer plenty of straw on top of this and then secure the whole with more netting.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early · Planting
Prune hard to the base
Prune back to within 30cm to 45cm of the plant base so that the year's growth will begin from this low framework. If you want the plant to grow larger, this need only be done every few years.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.