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  • Aloysia citrodora

Aloysia citrodora

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Synonym: Aloysia triphylla

Common name: Lemon verbena, lemon beebrush


Aloysia citrodora, an aromatic, herbaceous shrub belonging to the Verbena family (Verbenaceae), is native to South America, particularly Chile and Argentina.  A. citrodora is marketed as a plant for the herb garden, but has many other uses. It is considered to be the truest to lemon of all the lemon-scented plants.


A. citrodora is deciduous in colder climates, but semi-evergreen or evergreen in warmer ones. In late spring tiny white or mauve panicles of four-petaled flowers appear at the ends of branches. The flowers are edible, and sometimes used as a garnish. Lemon verbena leaves grow in groups of three around the stem. The leaves are light green, lance-shaped, and slightly rough to the touch. The surface of the leaves hav prominent veining.  Aloysia citrodora leaves emit a strong lemon scent when bruised, and the lemon scent is strongest when the flowers appear.  


Lemon verbena was brought to Europe by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 17th century. They wanted the plant for its oil. Lemon verbena is rich in essential oils, and is said to have a calming effect on the body and the mind. The leaves and the flowers are used to add a lemon flavour to tea, other beverages, and desserts, and also to add flavour to meat dishes. It has also been added in potpourri. In Latin American countries A. citrodora was used in traditional medicine. It is thought to have many health benefits.


Lemon verbena is easily propagated by cuttings. It prefers full sun and well-draining, fertile soil. It is best to cut it back so it doesn't get straggly.


The genus name Aloysia was given to honour Princess Maria Luisa of Parma, wife of King Charles IV of Spain. The specific epithet is from Latin and means 'lemon-scented'.


At VanDusen, Aloysia citrodora is planted as a seasonal shrub. It can be found in Bed 57B of the Southern Hemisphere Garden underneath the monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria aracana).


Text and all photos by Kumi Sutcliffe, except for flower photo which is by H. Zell, via Wikimedia Commons

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  • Home
  • Updates
    • What's New
    • Garden Stories >
      • Garden Story Index
    • Self-Guided Tours
    • Gardener Walks
    • Curator Updates
    • Guide Training
    • Walks & Talks >
      • Walks and Talks 2025
      • Walks and Talks 2024
      • Walks and Talks 2023
      • Walks and Talks 2022
      • Walks -Talks 2021 & Zoom Tips
    • PDFs of Updates, Tours, & Talks >
      • Self-guided Tours (PDF)
      • Gardener Walks (PDF)
  • Plant IDs
    • ID By Flower Color >
      • Red Flowers
      • Pink Flowers
      • Orange Flowers
      • Yellow Flowers
      • Green Flowers
      • Blue Flowers
      • Purple Flowers
      • White Flowers
    • ID By Type >
      • Annuals
      • Berries-Fruits-Nuts
      • Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes, Tubers >
        • Bulbs
        • Corms
        • Rhizomes
        • Tubers
      • Ferns
      • Grasses
      • Medicinal Plants
      • Native Plants
      • Perennials >
        • Peonies
        • Salvias
      • Rhododendrons >
        • Rhodendron Erica Notes
      • Shrubs >
        • Calycanthus
        • Hydrangeas >
          • Hydrangea Background
        • Peonies >
          • Peonies-Overview
        • Rhododendrons
        • Roses >
          • Rose Background
      • Trees >
        • Conifers >
          • Cypress
          • Firs
          • Pines
        • Conifer Connect Exhibit
        • Deciduous Trees >
          • Dogwoods
          • Ginkgos
          • Magnolias
          • Witch Hazels
        • Native Trees
        • Tree of the Month
  • In the Garden
    • Map and Collection Lists >
      • Plant Locator
    • Art in the Garden >
      • Symposium & Exhibitions
    • Building and Grounds >
      • Bridges
      • Formal Rose Garden Hardscape and Art
      • Grotto Area & Black Garden
      • Korean Pavilion
      • Maze
    • Gardener Assignments
    • Collections >
      • Ash Collection
      • Camellia Collection
      • Rhododendron Walk
    • Gardens >
      • Gardens A-D >
        • Alma VanDusen Garden
        • Backyard Bird Garden
        • Bentall Garden
        • Black Garden
        • Canadian Heritage Garden >
          • Bees
          • Canadian Heritage Orchard
        • Cascadia Garden
        • Cherry Grove
        • Chilean Garden
      • Gardens E-H >
        • Eastern North America Garden
        • Fern Dell
        • Formal Rose Garden
        • Fragrance Garden
        • Heather Garden
        • Herb Garden
        • Heritage Rose Garden
      • Gardens I-P >
        • Laburnum Walk
        • Livingstone Lake
        • Meconopsis Dell
        • Meditation Garden
        • Mediterranean Garden
        • Ornamental Grasses
        • Perennial Garden
      • Gardens R-Z >
        • Rhododendron Walk
        • Sino-Himayalan Region
        • South African Garden
        • Southern Hemisphere
        • Stone Garden
        • Vegetable Garden
        • Woodland Garden
    • Garden History >
      • History photos
  • Science
    • Animals & Insects >
      • Birds
      • Butterflies and Moths
      • Insect Friends
      • Small Creatures
    • Buds
    • Colour and Vision
    • Dynamic Symmetry - Fibonacci Spirals
    • Flowers
    • Fruit
    • Germination
    • Habitats and Environments
    • Hormones
    • Leaves
    • Life on Earth
    • Light, Energy, and Rainbows
    • Plant Calendars
    • Pollination
    • Pollen
    • Roots
    • Scents
    • Seeds
    • Soil
    • Stems
    • Vascular Plants
    • Web of Interdependence
    • Weeds
  • Bloedel
  • Search
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  • About
    • ERICA, ERICA'S TREE (and a short history of Guiding) - June 14, 2018
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