Lemon Verbena – 50 Seeds

Lemon Verbena Seeds. The lemon verbena plant (Aloysia citrodora) is native to the countries of Chile and Argentina. This is an aromatic shrub, its leaves holding their fragrance even after being dried for years. Lemon verbena plant has a fragrant, lemony smell, small white flowers and narrow leaves.
Lemon verbena is a half-hardy, deciduous perennial shrub that can grow up to 2m. It bears clusters of tiny white flowers in summer and has pale-green lance-shaped leaves that are highly fragrant, exuding an aroma of lemon even when only lightly touched.

The plant is deciduous and will shed its leaves in winter. Hard pruning in early spring is recommended to encourage healthy, dense new growth and prevent the plant from becoming leggy or overly woody. Under ideal conditions, it grows quickly and can live for approximately 30 years.

Common Names: Lemon verbena, Lemon beebrush and Herb Louisa.

Lemon Verbena Culinary Uses

• Young, finely chopped fresh verbena leaves can be used to give any dish a lemony taste.
• Make a refreshing tea with  verbena.
• You can also add the herb  infused in oils and vinegar’s.

Lemon Verbena Medicinal Benefits

• It is an astringent, aromatic herb that is rich in volatile oils.
• It has calming and digestive properties.
• It is taken internally to reduces feverish colds, soothes bronchial and nasal congestion, relieves spasms, nausea, palpitations and soothes abdominal discomfort.
• Verbena is a gentle sedative and tonic for the nervous system and helps to encounter depression.

Growing Lemon Verbena

Indoor Sowing: Late Winter and Early Spring.

Direct Sowing: Autumn and Spring.

• Indoor sowing can be done in Late Winter and Early Spring.
• In warm climates, you can direct sow the seeds in Autumn or in Spring once the last danger of frost has passed and the ground is warming.
• Use a good garden soil mixed with a handful of peat moss or compost.
• Place your seeds in rows on the surface of the soil and cover very lightly with a thin layer of soil.
• Moisten the soil well, and wait until your seedlings have at least one set of leaves before transferring them into larger pots or into the garden.
• Water thoroughly, and keep your seedlings moist but not wet.
• Thin away the weaker seedlings to allow the stronger specimens better access to nutrients and water.
• Please note that it is a slow growing plant initially, so germination may take some time.
• It needs full sun and well-drained soil.
• Lemon verbena herb is a sensitive plant, preferring warmth to cold and having a high water requirement.
• Lemon verbena grows best in loose, well-drained soil that’s rich in organic matter with good drainage.
• Though moisture-retentive soil is often recommended, the plant will rot if its roots are constantly wet.