How to Grow Lemon Verbena
Aloysia citrodora
Lemon verbena is a deciduous shrub with intensely lemon-scented leaves, prized for teas, desserts, and potpourri. It needs a warm, sheltered spot — ideally against a south-facing wall. It drops its leaves in autumn (this is normal). Prune in late spring once new buds are visible, never in autumn. In cold areas, grow in a pot and overwinter frost-free. The dried leaves retain their scent for years.
Yearly Lifecycle
Care Essentials
Light feed in spring with a balanced fertiliser as new growth appears. Avoid overfeeding which reduces essential oil concentration.
Watch For
- Whitefly (under glass)
- Red spider mite (dry conditions)
- Late frost damage to new growth
Companions
Lavender, Rosemary, Sage
Track your Lemon Verbena care schedule — pruning, feeding, and seasonal tasks
Start planning freeGrowing Tips
Warm wall position
Plant against a south-facing wall for warmth and shelter. This makes the difference between survival and death in cold winters.
Prune late
Wait until late spring to prune — new growth is very late to appear and old stems protect the crown from frost.
Harvest for drying
Pick leaves freely from mid-summer for the strongest lemon flavour. Dry a large batch before leaf fall for winter teas.
Winter protection
Mulch the crown thickly in autumn and do not cut back. In pots, move to a frost-free spot before the first hard frost.
Log Lemon Verbena in your garden — track growth, care, and harvests year after year
Start planning free