Intermediate
skill rating
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Aloysia triphylla (Lemon verbena)
2 hours care
per year
per year
2.5m
Max height
Max height
2.5m
Max spread
Max spread
5-10 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Aloysia triphylla
Other names
Lemon verbena, Lemon plant, Verbena oil plant, Lemon scented verbena, Sweet scented verbena, Cidron, Limonetto, Lemon , Lippia citriodora, Herb Louisa, Aloysia citrodora, Aloysia citriodora
Genus
Aloysia Aloysia
Species
A. triphylla - A. triphylla is an upright, bushy, borderline hardy, deciduous shrub or sub-shrub with narrowly lance-shaped, lemon-scented, rough, bright green leaves and slender panicles of tiny, white or pale lilac flowers in late summer.
Aloysia triphylla is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Refreshing lemon scent when leaves are crushed
Habit
Upright, Bushy
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
Flower
White, Lilac in Summer
Foliage
Bright-green in Spring; Bright-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 6 or 13.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings
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Where to grow
Aloysia triphylla (Lemon verbena) will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 2.5m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas, apply a thick mulch in autumn. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
Botanical name
Aloysia triphylla
Other names
Lemon verbena, Lemon plant, Verbena oil plant, Lemon scented verbena, Sweet scented verbena, Cidron, Limonetto, Lemon , Lippia citriodora, Herb Louisa, Aloysia citrodora, Aloysia citriodora
Genus
Aloysia Aloysia
Species
A. triphylla - A. triphylla is an upright, bushy, borderline hardy, deciduous shrub or sub-shrub with narrowly lance-shaped, lemon-scented, rough, bright green leaves and slender panicles of tiny, white or pale lilac flowers in late summer.
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Refreshing lemon scent when leaves are crushed
Habit
Upright, Bushy
Awards
RHS AGM (Award of Garden Merit)
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Colour
Flower
White, Lilac in Summer
Foliage
Bright-green in Spring; Bright-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Pests
Generally pest free
Diseases
Generally disease free
General care
Pruning
Pruning group 6 or 13.
Propagation methods
Softwood cuttings
Defra's Risk register #1
Plant name
Aloysia triphylla (Lemon verbena)
Common pest name
grape ground pearl
Scientific pest name
Margarodes vitis
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
5
General biosecurity comments
Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.
About this section
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
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Where to grow
Aloysia triphylla (Lemon verbena) will reach a height of 2.5m and a spread of 2.5m after 5-10 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Mediterranean, Wallside and trellises
Cultivation
Grow in well-drained soil in full sun. In cold areas, apply a thick mulch in autumn. Under glass, grow in loam-based compost in full light.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 12, Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3), Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
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