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Shrub

Lemon Verbena

Aloysia citrodora

Perennial with edible leaves. Mulch base heavily for Zone 7A winters; will die to ground but regrow from roots

EdibleMedicinal
At a Glance

What to know before finding it a place.

SunFull sun
WaterMedium water
System layerShrub
Plant typePerennial
Plant spacing24-36 in apart
Mature size4-8 ft / 3-6 ft
Chill hours0-300
Soil pH6.0-7.5
HarvestMay–Oct
Expected yieldContinuous (leaves)
TrellisNo
Central Oklahoma

Growing notes for our conditions.

Regional fit still depends on the actual site—especially drainage, exposure, irrigation, soil and the specific cultivar selected.

Oklahoma notes

Mulch base heavily for Zone 7A winters; will die to ground but regrow from roots

Disease resistance

Good; protect from frost

Pruning

Cut back hard in spring; mulch roots heavily in winter

Care

Intense lemon flavor; excellent tea herb; marginally hardy in Zone 7A

Drought tolerance

Moderate; consistent moisture improves performance

Pollination & Production

Plan the partners before planting the tree.

Pollination reference

For fruiting plants, compatible bloom timing and nearby partners can matter as much as the cultivar itself.

PollinationSelf-fertile
Compatible partners–
Variety Selection

The cultivar can matter as much as the species.

These references help narrow the large number of named varieties to options better aligned with Zone 7A conditions, disease pressure and useful harvest windows.

Zone 7A Recommended Varieties

Common Lemon Verbena

These are recommendations carried in the Organix Zone 7A reference database. They are not automatically the same as a cultivar personally proven by Organix on every site; site conditions and availability still matter.

Landscape Role

How this plant can function in a larger system.

Landscape functions

Edible; Attractor; Repeller; Medicinal

Edible parts

Leaves

Companion plants

Fruit trees, Herbs, Vegetables

Community / companion role

Pollination: Self-fertile; Companions: Fruit trees, Herbs, Vegetables

Food-forest layer

Shrub

Oklahoma classification

Secondary

Soil, Fertility & Care

Support the plant without overcomplicating the system.

Soil preferences

Preferred pH 6.0-7.5

KNF / fertility schedule

Spring OHN + FPJ; minimal otherwise

Maintenance

Cut back hard in spring; mulch roots heavily in winter

Use this as a planning reference.

Plant performance varies with microclimate, soil, drainage, water, maintenance and cultivar. Organix uses the library to narrow good candidates, then makes final selections around the actual site.

Edible and medicinal tags describe traditional or practical plant uses in the landscape and are not medical advice. Always verify identification, preparation and individual suitability before consuming a plant.