Lemon Verbena Live Plant – Aloysia Triphylla – Aromatic Herb – 3 inch Pot

Overview

Transform your garden or kitchen with the vibrant aroma of a lemon verbena live plant. Known botanically as Aloysia citriodora or Aloysia triphylla, this popular shrub is celebrated worldwide for its incredibly intense, sweet, and fresh lemon scent. Originating from South America, lemon verbena live plant has been adored for centuries for its aromatic leaves, which release a delightful citrus fragrance with just a gentle touch. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a culinary enthusiast, this plant offers a sensory experience unlike any other. It arrives as a healthy, thriving specimen in a 3-inch pot, ready to be transplanted and enjoyed.

Our aloysia triphylla plant is a versatile addition to any setting. Its bright green, elongated leaves are not only beautiful but also packed with essential oils that give it its distinctive aroma. This plant is a fantastic choice for those looking to add a touch of natural fragrance to their environment, or for anyone keen on exploring the many culinary and therapeutic uses of fresh lemon verbena. Enjoy the simple pleasure of brushing against its leaves and releasing its captivating perfume, making every moment in your garden or home more enjoyable.

Key Benefits

The lemon verbena live plant offers a multitude of benefits, from enhancing your culinary creations to providing a soothing aromatic experience. Its unique properties make it a must-have for any plant lover.

• Intense Lemon Fragrance: Experience a truly captivating, sweet, and fresh lemon scent that is more potent and nuanced than other lemon-scented herbs. This natural air freshener can uplift your mood and invigorate your senses.
• Culinary Versatility: The leaves of the aloysia triphylla plant are excellent for cooking. Use them to flavor teas, desserts, marinades, poultry, fish, and even cocktails. Its distinct flavor profile adds a gourmet touch to any dish.
• Aesthetic Appeal: With its bright green, elegant foliage, lemon verbena adds a touch of natural beauty to herb gardens, patio containers, or even as an indoor accent plant. It grows into an attractive shrub, providing lush greenery.
• Attracts Pollinators: While primarily grown for its leaves, lemon verbena can produce small, delicate flowers that attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden, supporting local ecosystems.
• Therapeutic Uses: Traditionally, fragrant herb plant leaves have been used in herbal remedies for their calming and digestive properties. Enjoy a soothing cup of lemon verbena tea for relaxation.
• Easy to Grow: This plant is relatively low-maintenance, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. With proper care, it can thrive and provide abundant fragrant leaves throughout the growing season.
• Natural Pest Repellent: The strong citrus scent of lemon verbena can help deter some common garden pests, making it a beneficial companion plant in your garden beds.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your lemon verbena live plant is straightforward and rewarding, ensuring a continuous supply of its aromatic leaves. This deciduous shrub thrives in warm climates and can be grown as an annual in colder regions or brought indoors during winter. Understanding its basic needs will help your plant flourish.

For optimal growth, lemon verbena care begins with proper sunlight. It prefers full sun, meaning at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. If growing indoors, place it in a south-facing window or under grow lights to ensure it receives adequate light. Well-draining soil is crucial; a good quality potting mix amended with some sand or perlite will provide the ideal conditions. Avoid heavy, waterlogged soils, which can lead to root rot. Water regularly, allowing the top inch of soil to dry out between waterings. During hot, dry periods, it may need daily watering, but reduce frequency in cooler weather or if growing indoors.

The aloysia triphylla plant is generally hardy in USDA Zones 8-10, where it can survive winter outdoors. In colder zones (7 and below), it’s best grown in a container and moved indoors before the first frost, or treated as an annual. When bringing indoors, prune it back and reduce watering. Fertilize sparingly during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4-6 weeks. Pruning encourages bushier growth and more leaves; snip off the tips of branches regularly. Watch out for common pests like spider mites, especially when grown indoors; regular inspection and neem oil can help manage them. Proper lemon verbena care ensures a healthy and productive plant for years.

Size & Details

This lemon verbena live plant is shipped in a 3-inch nursery pot, providing a robust root system ready for transplanting. At the time of shipment, the plant typically stands between 4-8 inches tall, depending on growth and pruning. Lemon verbena is a moderately fast-growing shrub that, when mature, can reach heights of 3-5 feet and spread equally wide in ideal outdoor conditions. When grown in a container, its size can be controlled through regular pruning, making it suitable for patios or indoor settings.

The plant will arrive carefully packaged to ensure its health and vitality during transit. Expect it to establish quickly in its new environment. The leaves are elongated and bright green, offering a vibrant contrast in any garden or kitchen. While mainly grown for its foliage, the plant may produce small, delicate white to pale purple flowers in late summer, adding an extra touch of charm. This fragrant herb plant offers a continuous harvest of leaves throughout the warmer months.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: When grown outdoors in optimal conditions, a lemon verbena live plant can reach 3-5 feet tall and wide. In containers, its size can be kept smaller with regular pruning, typically 1-2 feet tall and wide.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Lemon verbena thrives outdoors in full sun in warm climates (USDA Zones 8-10). In colder zones, it can be grown outdoors during summer and brought indoors as a houseplant for winter, or treated as an annual.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Your aloysia triphylla plant requires full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for the best growth and fragrance production.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, lemon verbena is considered relatively easy to care for. It needs well-draining soil, consistent watering, and plenty of sunlight. Regular pruning will keep it bushy and productive, making lemon verbena care quite manageable.
• Q: Can I use lemon verbena in cooking? A: Absolutely! Lemon verbena culinary uses are extensive. Its leaves are fantastic for flavoring teas, desserts, poultry, fish, and refreshing drinks. It imparts a strong, sweet lemon flavor.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive healthy and actively growing, securely packaged in a 3-inch pot with soil, ready for transplanting. We take great care to ensure its safe journey to your home.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant your lemon verbena is in spring after all danger of frost has passed, allowing it to establish itself before the heat of summer.
• Q: Is it pet-safe? A: While generally considered non-toxic to humans, it’s always best to research specific pet safety or consult a vet, as some plants can cause mild digestive upset in pets if ingested in large quantities.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: Lemon verbena is sensitive to frost. It can tolerate temperatures down to about 20-25°F (-6 to -3°C) for short periods, but sustained freezing temperatures will damage or kill the plant.
• Q: How often should I water my fragrant herb plant? A: Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry. During hot, dry weather, this might be daily, while in cooler conditions or indoors, it could be every few days. Do not let it sit in waterlogged soil.