Lemon Verbena- Aloysia triphylla -  €9.5 per plant 

Lemon Verbena is a wonderful plant making the finest herbal teas and gracing the garden with elegance.  Packed with delicious citrus flavour, thinly sliced leaves add zest and aroma to fish, salads, and steamed vegetables. The plant is not hardy and requires over wintering so we suggest you grow the plant in large pot and bring in for the cold months. To order this plant please contact us [email protected].  

Context

  • native region: S. America - Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay. Locally naturalized in the Mediterranean
  • native habitat: Open scrub
  • family: Verbenaceae

Predators

  • No experience of any pests or predators 

Needs, tolerances 

  • Light: Full sun or part shade
  • soil pH:  Acid-neutral -basic alkaline
  • USDA Hardiness Zone: 8a - 10b
  • Prefers dry or moist soil   
  • Over winter inside in temperate continental climate

Known hazards 


  • The essential oil from the plant might sensitize the skin to sunlight.
  • Large doses of the tea can cause gastric irritation

Overview


  • 16 x 20 cm Plant Bag 
  • Deciduous Shrub growing to 3 m by 3 m at a medium rate
  • In leaf April-November
  • In flower in August, and the seeds ripen from Sep to October.
  • The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects.
  • Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil.
  • Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils.
  • Can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade.
  • Prefers dry or moist soil.

Characteristics

  • form: Semi woody deciduous shrub 
  • layer : Shrub/Herb Layer
  • habit: Multi stemed
  • height x width (m): 3x3
  • years to bearing yield: 0 years  
  • productive life span: 

Products 

  • Leaf: The strongly aromatic leaves makes a great tea. The leaves can also be used to liven up a salad, the leaves imparting  a taste and aroma of citrus
  • Medicinal: An undervalued medicinal herb, lemon verbena contains a strong lemon-scented essential oil that has calming and digestive qualities
  • Essential oil from leaves used in perfume
  • The essential oil is an effective insecticide in 1 - 2% concentration

Functions, behaviours


  • Flowers irregularly
  • The growing plant repels midges, flies and other insects
  • Insect pollinated
  • This species is notably resistant to honey fungus
If you would like this plant please send an email to [email protected] with your order. 
Balkan Ecology Project