By: Kathee Mierzejewski
The lemon verbena plant is native to the countries of Chile and Argentina. The lemon verbena herb is an aromatic shrub, its leaves holding their fragrance even after dried for years. The lemon verbena plant has a fragrant, lemony smell, small white flowers and narrow leaves. Read on to learn more about growing lemon verbena.
How do I grow lemon verbena?
Growing lemon verbena is not too difficult. The lemon verbena herb is a sensitive one, preferring warmth to cold and having a high water requirement. Lemon verbena seeds or cuttings are used when you want to generate a new plant. In other words, you can propagate the plant or grow it fresh from the seeds.
The cuttings of lemon verbena plants can be placed in a jar of water while you wait for new roots to form. Once they form, wait a few weeks for a good root structure to exist before planting the plant into soil. Once you see some good roots, you can plant it in a container with normal potting soil or outdoors if you live in a warm climate.
As far as growing lemon verbena from seed goes, you can start them in your normal starting planters. Just remember that both the seeds and the cuttings need plenty of sunshine to form a good plant. Once you see the seedlings and they grown several leaves, you can transplant the seedlings into normal sized pots.
Some Lemon Verbena Uses
Some of the most common lemon verbena uses include putting the leaves and flowers in teas and to flavor alcoholic beverages. You can use the lemon verbena herbs in desserts and jams. It is also wonderful in a good fruit salad.
The lemon verbena plant is sometimes used in making perfumes. There are toilet waters and colognes that include the herb in their ingredients.
Medicinally, the flowers and leaves of the lemon verbena herb have been used to help with certain medical conditions. Lemon verbena uses include using it medicinally as an antipyretic (fever reducer), sedative, stomachic and antispasmodic.
So now you know that growing lemon verbena is not that difficult, and requires very little work. You also know that lemon verbena uses include human consumption both medicinally and as an herb, and that it is safe for human consumption.
Lemon verbena plants are very versatile, so when you include it in an herb garden, know that you have included a very useful plant indeed.
