Plant Details

Aloysia triphylla, syn Verbena citrodora, Lippia citrodora, Aloysia triphylla

Lemon Verbena, Lemon beebrush

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Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Aloysia triphylla, syn Verbena citrodora, Lippia citrodora, Aloysia triphylla.

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Common names

4 names · 3 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Lemon beebrush
  • Lemon Verbena
Other languages (2)
Dutch
  • Citroenverbena
French
  • Verveine citronnelle
Sources & name notes

Names recorded in our plant catalogue, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

General information

Scientific name: Aloysia triphylla, syn Verbena citrodora, Lippia citrodora, Aloysia triphylla
Taxonomic placement (Kew): Aloysia citrodora Paláu View name reference ↗

The combined catalogue names refer to lemon verbena. The inspected synonym records for Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citrodora and Verbena citrodora converge on this species.

Sources [2] [3] [4]
Botanical family: Verbenaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Aloysia (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Lemon Verbena, Lemon beebrush

Plant characteristics

Layer: Shrub
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 3.00 m
Spread: 3.00 m
Growth rate: None
Foliage: Deciduous

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 7-10
Soil moisture:
Moist, Well-drained
Soil:
Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves, Condiment, Tea, Flowers
Edibility rating:
(4)
Medicinal rating:
(3)
Functions:
Essential oil, Insecticide, Repellent, Fragrant

Description

Leaves of this plant can be cooked like spinach or used as a flavoring in salads and fruit salads. They have a delightful lemon-like taste that is appreciated by most people. A refreshing tea can also be made from the leaves. Even after drying, the leaves retain their lemon scent for many years.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/07
Harvest ends: 30/09

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 950769; name ID 6872; Aloysia Paláu. Family column.

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Aloysia citrodora Paláu
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Name heading and taxonomic status; The combined catalogue names refer to lemon verbena. The inspected synonym records for Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citrodora and Verbena citrodora converge on this species.

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Aloysia triphylla Britton
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Taxonomic synonyms or horticultural name section. The combined catalogue names refer to lemon verbena. The inspected synonym records for Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citrodora and Verbena citrodora converge on this species.

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Lippia citrodora (Paláu) Kunth
    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: Taxonomic synonyms or horticultural name section. The combined catalogue names refer to lemon verbena. The inspected synonym records for Aloysia triphylla, Lippia citrodora and Verbena citrodora converge on this species.

    Source checked on .