There are never too many plants in the garden. You can add lemon verbena to this collection, which will work great in various floral arrangements. Its cultivation does not pose any problems, but what deserves special recognition is not its appearance, but its citrus scent. We present the most important information about this specimen.
Lemon verbena, also known as trifoliate lippia, belongs to the verbena family and comes from South America. We can also find it in North America for many years. It appeared in Europe in the 17th century.
This specimen is a deciduous shrub that grows up to 2 m, and if unpruned – up to 7 m. Its leaves are shiny and pointed in shape, reaching 8 cm in length. When crushed, they emit an even more intense lemon scent.
In fact, we do not consider lemon verbena to be an ornamental plant, although it can fit into many flower arrangements. However, its scent is enough to grow it in a home garden. From early summer or late autumn, it produces small white or white-pink flowers, which are collected in dense, peak inflorescences.
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Lemon verbena is used in cooking, cosmetics and medicine. It has various compounds with wide properties and applications.
It can be used to season dishes, sauces, marinades, jams, cocktails, drinks and desserts. Goes well with herbal teas – gives them a lemon flavor, their aroma becomes more intense.
Lippia trifolia is a popular ingredient of many soaps, perfumes and colognes. That’s why it is worth drying it and putting it at home or hiding it in a bag, which we then put in the wardrobe with clothes. As mentioned – protects against . In addition, it repels flies and mosquitoes, so it is worth planting its bush near the terrace.
We consider this specimen to be a powerful antioxidant. It is famous for its numerous medicinal properties – it helps regulate kidney function, strengthen the nervous system, relieve swelling and many others. Moreover, it acts as a calming and relaxing agent.
Lemon verbena is not a demanding plant. However, we must stick to the most important rules for it to develop properly. Which ones are we talking about?
We can buy ready-made plant seedlings in the store. We can then plant them in the garden or transplant them to another pot.
There is also a sowing option. Initially, we sow the seeds in a window or in pots at the turn of February and March. When they sprout, we start pruning them, and after 2-3 weeks we start trimming the tops of the shoots. We plant the seedlings prepared in this way in their target place after May 15.
Lippia prefers bright, sunny places, sheltered from the wind. We choose fertile, humus, moist, clay soil that is rich in nutrients.. It is worth remembering that it withstands down to -10 degrees Celsius, so in our climate we treat it as an annual plant. Therefore, we recommend protecting it against frost and cold winds.
This specimen requires regular watering, especially during long-term drought. If we forget about watering, its leaves will start to wither.
Due to the fact that lemon verbena can grow up to 7 m, it it is worth trimming and shaping it regularly. This treatment must be performed even throughout the summer. The leaves are collected in spring and early autumn. Then we can use them at home.
