How to grow Lemon Verbena in Australia

Where to plant

Grow lemon verbena in a warm, sheltered spot in full sun with light, well-drained soil. It dislikes frost and wet roots. It is deciduous, dropping its leaves in winter in cooler areas and sprouting again in spring.

Plant it beside a path or doorway, where brushing past the leaves releases the lemon scent.

• South East Queensland, the Northern Rivers, North Queensland and Darwin: plant from September to April. It tolerates heat and humidity, but needs good drainage in the wet season.
• Sydney, Adelaide and Perth: plant from September to November as growth starts. It drops its leaves in winter; cut it back in early spring and water through summer.
• Melbourne: marginal. Plant from October to December in a warm, sheltered spot and mulch the base heavily before winter.
• Canberra and Hobart: plant in spring (September to November in Canberra, October and November in Hobart) in the most sheltered spot. Top growth is frost tender, but the roots usually survive with a thick mulch; hard frost can kill it.

How to plant

1. Buy a potted plant, or strike a cutting, and plant it in spring once frosts are over.
2. Choose a warm, sheltered, sunny spot with well-drained soil. On heavy soil, plant on a mound or in a pot.
3. Plant at the same depth as in the pot, water in and mulch, keeping the mulch clear of the stem.
4. Water regularly until it establishes.

Watering and feeding

Water moderately through the growing season, letting the soil dry a little between waterings. Lemon verbena dislikes wet roots, so never leave it in soggy soil, and water much less while it is leafless in winter.

Feed lightly in spring with compost or a balanced fertiliser. Too much feeding gives soft growth with less scent.

Pruning and care through the year

• In spring, nip out the top shoots to make the plant bush out; left unpruned it becomes tall and straggly.
• Keep picking leaves and cutting flowering stems through the season, which also keeps it bushy.
• In cooler areas, cut the plant back in early spring before new growth starts.
• In frosty areas, mulch the base heavily before winter to protect the roots.

Harvesting

Pick leaves or cut whole sprigs whenever you need them through spring, summer and autumn. The scent is strongest in summer. Cut flowering stems make a fragrant bunch for the house.

To dry the leaves for winter tea, hang bunches in a shady, airy place, then strip the leaves and store them in an airtight jar.

Growing in pots

Lemon verbena grows well in a pot at least 25 to 30 cm wide with a free-draining potting mix. In frosty areas, a pot can be moved to a sheltered spot for winter. Water when the top of the mix is dry, and less in winter.

Using it

For tea, put a handful of fresh or dried leaves in a pot and pour boiling water over them. The leaves also flavour sorbets, custards, syrups, cordials and fruit salads, and can be added to drinks. Remove the leaves before serving, as they are tough.

Propagation and saving seed

Lemon verbena grows from cuttings taken in summer, which take about six to eight weeks to root. Use soft, non-flowering shoot tips in a pot of free-draining mix kept lightly moist in a sheltered, shaded spot.