Practical
Plants

Aloysia triphylla

Lemon Verbena

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Aloysia genus in the family Verbenaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Aloysia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
3 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The essential oil from the plant might sensitise the skin to sunlight[16].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Leaves - occasionally cooked as a spinach[8] but more commonly used as a flavouring in salads, fruit salads etc[6][14][3][10]. A delicious lemon-like flavour, it is adored by most people who try it[K]. A delicious and refreshing tea is made from the leaves[6][14][2][10]. The dried leaves will retain their lemon aroma for many years[22].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An undervalued medicinal herb, lemon verbena contains a strong lemon-scented essential oil that has calming and digestive qualities[19]. The plant has a gentle sedative action and a reputation for soothing abdominal discomfort. It has a mildly tonic effect upon the nervous system and helps to lift the spirits and counter depression[19]. The leaves and the flowering tops are antispasmodic, febrifuge, sedative and stomachic[22][26][16][17]. A tea made from the leaves has a deliciously refreshing lemon flavour and is used mainly in treating digestive disorders[22] such as flatulence, indigestion and acidity[18]. Some caution is advisable though, since prolonged use or large internal doses can cause gastric irritation[21]. The herb is also useful as a stimulant for treating lethargy or depression[18] whilst it is also used to treat feverish colds[16]. The essential oil is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of nervous and digestive problems and also for acne, boils and cysts[16].

Product or use
Antispasmodic
Product or use
Aromatherapy
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stomachic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An essential oil obtained from the leaves is extensively used in perfumery[26][25]. An average yield of 0.5% is obtained[26]. There is some evidence that the use of this oil can sensitise the skin to sunlight and so its use has been largely replaced by the tropical plant lemongrass, Cymbopogon spp.[16]. The dried leaves retain their fragrance well and so are used in pot-pourri[16]. The growing plant repels midges, flies and other insects[13]. The essential oil is an effective insecticide in 1 - 2% concentration[17].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Pot-pourri
Product or use
Repellent

Environment

Range
S. America - Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay. Locally naturalized in the Mediterranean[23].
Habitat
Fields and roadsides[16]. Open scrub[20].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in late spring. Only just cover the seed and keep in a light position, making sure the compost does not dry out. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out in early summer and give some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of softwood, May/June in a frame. Grow on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K]. The cuttings root quickly and easily, though there can be losses in the first winter[K]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, August in a frame. Grow on for at least their first winter in a greenhouse and plant out in late spring after the last expected frosts[K]. The cuttings root quickly and easily, though there can be losses in the first winter[K].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most moderately fertile soils if they are well-drained[34]. Prefers a light soil[35]. Requires a sunny sheltered position[31][34]. Requires a warm damp climate[40].

A very ornamental plant[27], lemon verbena is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain[27][28][30], growing well in Cornwall[39]. It can withstand about 10°c of frost[33] and survives outdoors on a wall at Kew[K]. It generally survives most winters outdoors if growing in a suitable position, though it is often cut back to ground level and then resprouts from the base in late spring[29] or early summer[36]. Giving the roots a good, thick organic mulch will confer extra protection from winter cold[37]. The plant succeeds outdoors at Howick, a garden on the coast of Northumberland. The leaves are very aromatic with a lemon scent[32], they are often used to make a drink or for their essential oils[38]. There has been considerable confusion over the naming of this species. We are following the treatment used in[28] and[34], which is also the current treatment in the 1999 edition of The Plant Finder. However, the book 'World Economic Plants' uses the name A. citrodora Palau (a different author to the one we cite) as the correct name. Any pruning is best carried out in the spring[35].

This species is notably resistant to honey fungus[34].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

  2. Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9

    ↩

  3. RHS. The Garden. Volume 111. Royal Horticultural Society 1986-00-00

    ↩

  4. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

  5. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society 1980-00-00

  6. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-262-7

    ↩1↩2

  7. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

  8. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  9. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

  10. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  11. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

  12. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

  13. Allardice.P. A - Z of Companion Planting. Cassell Publishers Ltd. 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-304-34324-2

    ↩

  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  15. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

  16. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  17. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30725-8

    ↩1↩2

  19. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2

  20. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  21. Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-85613-067-2

    ↩

  22. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  23. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  24. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall.

  25. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  26. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  27. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)

    ↩1↩2

  28. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)

    ↩1↩2

  29. ? The Plantsman. Vol. 2. 1980 - 1981. Royal Horticultural Society (1980-00-00)

    ↩

  30. Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press ISBN 0-87857-262-7 (1979-00-00)

    ↩

  31. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent (1990-00-00)

    ↩

  32. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray ISBN 0-7195-5043-2 (1992-00-00)

    ↩

  33. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30258-2 (1989-00-00)

    ↩

  34. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  35. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins ISBN 0-00-219220-0 (1983-00-00)

    ↩1↩2

  36. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)

    ↩

  37. Phillips. R. & Foy. N. Herbs Pan Books Ltd. London. ISBN 0-330-30725-8 (1990-00-00)

    ↩

  38. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin ISBN 0-14-046-440-9 (1984-00-00)

    ↩

  39. Thurston. Trees and Shrubs in Cornwall. ()

    ↩

  40. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald ISBN 0-356-10541-5 (1984-00-00)

    ↩

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