Lemon Verbena Aloysia citriodora

Common Names
Lemon Verbena , vervain
Botanical Name
Aloysia citriodora
Syn. A. triphylla
Family
VERBENACEAE

Medicinal Uses & Benefits of Lemon Verbena

Medicinal Uses: * Culinary/Kitchen * Diarrhea * Nausea
Properties: * Antispasmodic * Aromatic * Carminative
Parts Used: Leaves, flowers
Constituents: cineole, acetic-acid, alpha-citral, alpha-pinene , alpha-terpinene, borneol, geraniol,limonene, tannin, terpinen-4-ol , caryophyllene

How to Use: Lemon Verbena

Lemon verbena is used primarily as a culinary herb, but it also makes a delightful medicinal herb tea that soothes stomach spasms and calm nerves and reduces fevers. The sweet, lemony scent is found in perfumes, soaps and sachets.

Preparation Methods & Dosage :

In the Kitchen: Use lemon verbena leaves fresh or dried to flavor, fish, poultry, vegetable dishes and salad dressings.Sweet but complex lemon fragrance.

Lemon Verbena Side Effects: none noted

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Plant Description

Aloysia citrodora US Botanical Garden

Flowers:Spikes of tiny lavender or white flowers
Plant Class:Decidous Perennial Shrub
Leaves: Lance shaped light green leaves
Fruit:
Preferred Habitat: Warm, sunny climates, cold sensitive
Flowering Season:late summer
Distribution:Native to Chile, Argentina and Peru. Introduced to Europe in the 17th Century

How to Grow Lemon Verbena

Tender, woody shrub hardy to Zones 9 and 10 in the US. Does best in full sun and rich, well drained soil. Potted plants grow up to 5 feet in height are wintered indoors before the first frost.

History and Traditions & Folklore

Introduced to the Old World in the 17th century by Spanish explorers.

References:

Works Cited

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