Lemon verbena has the purest lemon scent of any herb — a deciduous shrub whose leaves make an exquisite tea. It loves a warm, sunny, well-drained spot in a raised bed.
Quick facts
- Position: full sun, sheltered & warm
- Spacing: one shrub per 1 m
- Tub depth: our 35 cm depth; good drainage
- Time to harvest: pick once established
When to plant: Lemon verbena is a frost-tender perennial shrub — plant in spring. It drops its leaves in winter and reshoots in spring; in cold areas, give it a warm, sheltered spot. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.
Growing it in a raised bed: Plant into free-draining mix in the warmest, sunniest corner. Prune in late winter to keep it bushy. Don't panic when it drops its leaves in the cold — that's normal.
Watering and feeding: Water to establish and through summer, easing off as it goes dormant. Good drainage is key.
Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, two-spotted mite and whiteflies — though most herbs are pleasingly pest-resistant. See our safe pest guide.
Common problems: the main one to watch is powdery mildew, usually from damp, crowded conditions. Good airflow and morning watering prevent most.
Companion plants: Give it a warm spot of its own; the flowers attract bees. See our companion planting guide.
Harvest and storage: Pick leaves through the warm months for tea and desserts. They dry beautifully and keep their lemon scent for ages.
More growing guides: lemon balm, mint and lemongrass.
Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.
Image: Forest and Kim Starr, CC BY 3.0 us, via Wikimedia Commons.
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