Aloysia citrodora : a perennial shrub
Lemon verbena, known scientifically as Aloysia citrodora, is a perennial shrub that belongs to the Verbenaceae family. It is native to countries like Argentina, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru.
This plant can survive mild winters in regions such as Krasnodar and Stavropol near the Black Sea. It is popular for both its pleasing appearance and its fragrant leaves, which emit a citrus scent.
The plant has many uses. It is grown to extract essential oil from its green parts. Its strong citrus aroma makes it useful as a spice for sweet foods and as an ingredient in herbal teas.
Lemon verbena can also be grown indoors or planted alone in flower beds and borders. It makes a beautiful garden decoration because of its looks and scent.
The shrub spreads out and can grow from 300 to 700 centimeters tall in the wild. When grown in gardens, it usually reaches about 200 centimeters. It has straight stems and lance-shaped leaves with smooth edges and pointed tips.
The leaves are slightly wrinkled with a clear central vein. They grow opposite each other or in whorls and are light green in color.
The plant produces small flowers that are 1.5 to 2 centimeters wide. These flowers are white or light pink with a darker purple center. They grow at the ends of the stems and add to the plant’s beauty. The fruits are small, dry, and hard drupes.
Lemon verbena has a strong root system with a main taproot and many side shoots. This helps the plant take in water and nutrients from the soil efficiently.
To grow lemon verbena well, certain things need attention. The plant prefers moist, sunny spots but can also grow in partial shade. The soil should be rich, well-drained, and either loamy or sandy. It should be kept moderately moist. The soil’s pH should be neutral or slightly acidic.
Planting should happen between April and June, depending on where you live. Regular watering is needed, but avoid making the soil waterlogged. To encourage more flowers, fertilize the plant periodically with special plant foods.
Pruning is an important part of care. In fall, cut back the stems to about 5-10 centimeters. Lemon verbena does not tolerate very cold weather. It can survive winter only in the southern parts of Russia where temperatures stay above -10°C. In colder areas, the plant should be dug up and stored inside during winter.
Lemon verbena is easy to care for but can be affected by some problems. It can get root rot, cercospora, powdery mildew, or become a target for pests like aphids and nematodes.