Lemon verbena

This herb originates from the warm regions of South America, which is why it loves full sun. In the summer, choose the sunniest and warmest spot in your garden, on your terrace, or on your balcony. The more sun it receives, the more intensely its green leaves will smell of lemons.

You can harvest the leaves continuously throughout the entire growing season, ideally in sunny weather when they contain the most aromatic essential oils. It is best to pinch off the entire tips of the stems. By doing this, you will not only get a great harvest but also encourage the plant to grow bushy and branch out beautifully.

The plant blooms during July and August with small, pure white flowers. These flowers are a great attraction for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial pollinators, so if you want to enliven your garden and help nature, verbena is a great choice.

Yes, it is completely edible! Its fresh lemon flavor is fantastic in both warm and cold dishes. Most popular uses: • Refreshing iced teas and summer lemonades. • Hot, soothing tea. • Flavoring fruit salads, desserts, or ice creams. • A delicate ingredient for poultry or fish.

Yes, regular pruning is very beneficial for it! In the spring, before the plant starts to sprout fully, it is advisable to prune it back deeply (by about a third to a half). This will remove dry branches from the previous year and encourage strong growth and a compact shape. During the summer, you can shape it simply by harvesting its leaves regularly.

Verbena likes moderate watering. The soil should dry out slightly between waterings; the plant cannot tolerate overwatering, which could lead to root rot. As for nutrients, it benefits from regular fertilization with a standard herb fertilizer during the growing season, which will support the production of new fragrant leaves.

You will receive a mature seedling in a small pot from us. The most important step is to transplant it into a larger container or a protected garden bed as soon as possible. Don't forget to add a drainage layer (e.g., expanded clay) to the bottom of the new pot to prevent the roots from sitting in water. Use a high-quality, well-draining substrate.

Growing plants together is possible, but you must choose plants with similar sunlight and watering requirements. Excellent companions can be, for example, rosemary, thyme, or lavender, which also love the sun and tolerate drier soil. Keep in mind, however, that verbena grows quite vigorously and becomes a woody shrub up to 80 cm tall, so it needs plenty of its own space. Therefore, always provide it with a sufficiently spacious planter.

Since the plant can only withstand frost down to -12 °C (zone 8a), we primarily grow it as a potted plant in our climate. Before the first hard frosts arrive, move it to a bright, cool room. The ideal overwintering temperature is 5–10 °C. If the temperature is higher, the plant will continue to grow and become exhausted. During the winter, keep watering to a minimum.

Lemon verbena is not considered poisonous and is generally safe for both humans and common pets, such as dogs or cats. Moreover, its very strong aroma usually naturally discourages animals from nibbling on it in large quantities.

Certainly! Since its arrival in Europe in the 17th century, it has been valued for its aromatic essential oils. You can use it as a natural air freshener in your home. Dried leaves retain their fragrance for years, making them perfect for potpourri or aromatic sachets for your wardrobe (they also help repel moths). Trimmed sprigs beautifully complement and scent summer bouquets as well.

It typically grows to a height of 40 to 80 centimeters, making it an ideal shrub for growing in containers. We recommend spacing seedlings about 80 cm apart if planting them close to one another, so that each plant has enough room to grow and good air circulation.

The great news is that lemon verbena is very hardy. It does not suffer from any common diseases, and thanks to its high essential oil content, it repels most pests. Growing it is completely trouble-free and even total beginners can handle it with ease.

Leaf drop in the autumn is a natural process for lemon verbena, as it is a deciduous shrub. However, if the leaves turn yellow and fall off during the summer, the most common cause is waterlogged roots. Check that your pot has functional drainage holes and that there is no standing water at the bottom. Adding sand or perlite to the potting soil for better drainage may also help.

Yes, the most common and successful method is propagation by softwood cuttings. How to do it: • In late spring or early summer, cut off non-flowering shoots about 10–15 cm long. • Remove the lower leaves and dip the end of the cutting into a rooting hormone. • Plant in a light propagation substrate and keep moist at room temperature.