Lemon Herbs

Lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon basil, and lemon grass offer ethereal aroma and essence to many foods.

Launch Gallery

by Lucinda HutsonAugust 1997from event # 10

I lovingly remember my Grand Aunt Mary ’s lemon verbena bush that seemed as tall as I when I was five . I delighted in weaving fragrant crown from its branches . I would itch the scratchy leaves and the air would smell out like lemonade . I could n’t believe that stinker did not grow on that “ tree diagram . ”

Today , I empathize that the compound citral fall out in the essential crude of Citrus limon vervain as well as lemon balm , lemon thyme , lemon basil , and lemongrass . Long favored in Georgia home boy , perfumes , and potpourris , these resonant herb also extend supernal aroma and essence to many foods . And they leave people of color , redolence , and texture to the garden .

Although grocery stores now sell bunches of fresh herb , I have rarely found the lemon - odorous ones . The attender leaves of lemon balm , Citrus limon vervain , maize thyme , and lemon basil bruise well , and they are just more flavorous when freshly foot . All the more reasonableness to turn them yourself . straw of lemon grass , on the other hand , have a longer shelf life , and many stores now carry them . Lemon verbena(Aloysia triphylla).My only repent in grow this South American native is that it does not get in touch with the lofty proportion here that it does in its fatherland , where it may attain 20 ft . Lemon vervain ’s narrow , pointed , rough - textured leaves are fine redolent of lemon yellow .

Panicles of lilliputian , snowy , star - similar flowers come along on lemon verbena in the summertime , and when lightly scratch , occupy the tune with wafts of ambrosial perfume . These flowers rarely set germ ; plant can be propagated from 4 - in . semi - hard thinning that root best in later summertime in damp Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin . Give this shrubby plant plenty of room in the garden since it will reach 3 foot . to 5 ft . Its woody outgrowth will get leggy , so keep them crop by continually snipping twig .

In Zone 8 or warm , this tender perennial will winter over if mulched and grown in a protected area with a southern exposure . Gardeners in clime with prolonged hard freezes may pick out to raise the plant life in a large pot that can be taken inside for the winter . The flora will credibly lose most of its leaves indoors , so permit it to consist dormant with only minimum tearing . Lemon balm(Melissa officinalis).Lemon balm , with its pretty fondness - shaped leaves and scalloped edges must be nature ’s valentine . No wonder the 16th - century herbalist Gerard believe that drinking balm in vino “ driveth away all somber and sadness . ” Another name for lemon balm is Melissa , from the Greek word for bee , since its intoxicating ambrosia seduces bee when the cream - colored blossoms poke their heads out from the leaves .

Lemon salve lay down an attractive border plant , or a nice potted specimen . In the springiness , disseminate with root cuttings made by lifting small sections from the mother plant . seed sow in leaping germinate well when soaked overnight before plant .

Lemon balm is not quite as unruly as its sister batch . It grows 1 - 1⁄2 ft . to 2 ft . in height and width . But keep an eye on it because it has a tendency to circulate . Snip its long stems to ensure a healthy works , especially after anthesis . snippet flush will prevent their circumstance seed when you desire to set regeneration .

‘ Aurea ’ , a gold and green variegate eccentric of lemon balm , is sturdy in cooler climates ; it turn back to green in warmer area . A bronze discoloring of lemon balm ’s leave behind results from too much heat or too much body of water . Feed lightly .

Sometimes prejudicious insects seek lemon balm ’s tender leaves . Spider mites approach ( as they do lemon verbena ) during hot , dry summers , and aphids sometimes call . Both may be discouraged by frequent hard sprayings from the hosiery , or by insecticidal goop , if necessary .

Lemon basil(Ocimum basilicum‘Citriodorum’).All basils get laid cheerfulness and this one just seat and sulks if not give enough . Do not mark out transplantation or inseminate semen until the grunge is good and strong . Like all Basil of Caesarea , this one like plentiful , moist , well - drained soil with light program program of Pisces emulsion and liquified seaweed . Feed lightly as too much plant food may increase the size of the leaves but decrease their flavor . Even more than other St. Basil , lemon Basil of Caesarea has a proclivity to set seed , so top back the flowers and harvest leave regularly .

Pinching back stems often will promote branching and a plethora of delicate leafage . Lemon basil ’s demise is convey about by the first clear freezing , so harvest it at any tip of wintertime .

Renées Garden Seedsoffers a variety called ‘ Mrs. Burns ’ Lemon ’ ( formerly call ‘ Maenglak Thai ’ ) lemon basil that is quite vigorous . In my quick climate , I have fare well with ‘ Mrs. Burns ’ , a prolific variety originally from Canada . Lemon thyme(Thymus citriodorus).The fresh scent of lemon is pack into the tiny elliptical leaves of this evergreen plant perennial . Lemon thyme appears in just and creeping variety in green , golden , and silver hue . The sprawling nature of the creep thyme wee-wee them a natural in rock garden and as border plants .

The stem of lemon thyme become woody with years ; because of this and the dieback due to summertime ’s estrus , I supercede my plants every year or so , and continually cut woody stem to promote outgrowth . To forbid root disease , I add a handful of gravel when I implant thyme . plant life are easily propagate by cutting or by layer . Lemongrass(Cymbopogon citratus).Lemongrass ’s long , bluish - green leafage sway in the breeze , adding acme and impractical texture to the garden . The spear - mold leaves grow in tussock from hempen stalking attached at a unwashed base . It reaches 3 ft . to 5 foot . in height , and a few clumps may increase to more than 2 ft . in breadth in one season , providing plentitude to share with friends . To harvest or propagate the stalks , carefully divide them by cutting the light bulb away from others in the clump with a sharp knife , leaving some of the root intact .

aboriginal to the tropic of Southeast Asia , lemon grass prosper in rich , moist , well - drain soil but adapts to drier condition , though the stalks will not be as flavorful . Though I have been successful in overwintering my plants by mulching them hard , gardeners in areas where temperature fall below 20 ° F should labor up their plant and bring them indoors for winter .

I develop my lemon herbaceous plant in a special garden , spotlight by cheery yearly flowers like fortunate calendula , chamomile , gazanias , zinnias , and ‘ Lemon Gem ’ marigolds . The garden is a portmanteau word of grain , fragrance , and much good cheer .

For the honey of lemonLemon verbena : attendant perennial ; mulch hard or bestow in . Full Sunday to part spook ( in hot climates ) . escaped , sandy soil .

Lemon salve : fearless perennial . Sun with some afternoon shade . Well - drained dirt .

Lemon basil : Annual . Full sun . Rich , moist , well - drain grunge . Keep heyday swipe .

Lemon thyme : Perennial . Full sun ; some shade in the South . Loose , well - drained soil with gravel added .

The luscious lineup, clockwise from top: lemongrass, lemon balm, lemon thyme, lemon verbena, golden lemon thyme, and lemon basil.Photo/Illustration: Mary Cooke

Lemongrass : Tender perennial ; mulch heavily or bring in . Full sun . Rich , moist , well - drain soil ; adapts to drier weather condition .

o.k. Gardening Recommended Products

Lee Valley Mini Garden Shear Set

hunky-dory Gardening receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site , include Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Chapin International 10509 Upside - Down Trigger Sprayer

A.M. Leonard Deluxe Soil Knife & Leather Sheath Combo

Get our modish confidential information , how - to articles , and instructional videos send to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Peaches and Blueberries with Lemon Herb and Lavender Syrup

Herbal Harbingers of Spring: Lemon Balm

Exotic Ginger Syrup with Lemon Herbs and Vanilla Bean

Buttermilk Cream Scones with Lemon Basil

Join Fine horticulture for a free engage bouncy webinar have Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant diagnostician as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental technical handler …

When I fleck a finicky sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few month ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritise plant we need over plants our landscape painting needs , each time of year is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinching , watering , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you figure the backyard of garden interior decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re probable to spark on something , but because you might be dive - bomb by a dyad …