Lemon Verbena

Lemon Verbena is a semi-deciduous, tender perennial shrub. It has arching stems and narrow, pointed, pale green leaves in whorls of three or four. It has tiny, almost scentless, pale-pink or white flowers from April to August. Here in the Mid-South, we treat it as an annual and buy it every year. Before the first frost, I harvest the whole plant and dry the leaves for potpourri and tea. You may want to try bringing it indoors for the winter by transplanting it into a pot a few weeks before the first frost date. You may loose a few leaves, but it should survive in a south facing window.

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Uses Its leaves are prized for the lemon scent and are used in cooking desserts, potpourri, perfumes. In Victorian days, ladies would tuck a sprig or two into handkerchiefs to help ward of disease and bad smells. They were also used in finger bowls.

Medicinal Uses Astringent, sedative, and antispasmodic. Essential oil used for digestive problems, nervous complaints, acne, boils, and cysts. Infusions for colds and fever.

Cosmetic Uses Perfume, skin, and hair preparations. Use a handful of leaves or flowers in 2 pt. (1 l) of boiling water as an invigorating addition to a warm bath.

Caution This herbs essential oil may sensitize the skin to sunlight.

Size Grows 2-5' tall as a summer annual. Can reach 8-12' in zones 8-12. Verbena is marginally hardy in Zone 8. If planted in this zone it should be protected from excessive frost and wind: it's best to plant it along a south wall. Mulch with straw for added winter protection. Most gardeners treat this plant as a tender perennial and grow it as a potted plant that can be brought indoors or in a cool greenhouse.

Placement Good in borders or large containers

Exposure Full sun

Soil Plant in loamy, well-drained soil if grown outside. If grown in a pot, porous soil (peat/perlite mixture) with water-soluble fertilizer works very well. In a cool greenhouse verbena appears to die, put leaves will reappear when the temperature and daylight increases.

Harvesting Pick leaaves in summer to use fresh or to extract essential oil.

Preserving Dried leaves used in medicianl infusions or potpourris and herbal sachets. Cut stems may be placed in bundles of 5 to 7 stems, tied with a rubber band, and hung to dry in an airy place or dried in the microwave.