Aloysia triphylla (L'Hér.) Britton

Lemon Verbena

Deciduous shrub to 3 m or more tall. Shoots with angled edges. Leaves to about 10 cm long, mostly in 3s, lanceolate, long-pointed, entire or sometimes toothed, markedly lemon-scented when crushed. Flowers to about 5 mm long, numerous, in downy-branched clusters to about 15 cm long, white; summer. [Aloysia citriodora (Cav.) Ort., Lippia citriodora (Ort.) Humb., Bonpl. & Kunth.]

Argentina, Chile

The lemon-scented oils so noticeable when the leaves are crushed are used in refreshing teas, and pot-pourri, also as an additive to French liqueurs.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Verbenaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 4. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 3. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.

Aloysia triphylla 'Bergamia'

Leaves with a remarkable orange, rather than lemon aroma when crushed.