Verbena Plant Information Are Verbena And Lemon Verbena The Same Thing

Are Verbena and Lemon Verbena Different? In short, lemon verbena is one of many plants that could be called a verbena. Around 1,200 species are in the Verbenaceae, or verbena plant family. The ones most commonly called verbenas are the roughly 250 species in the genus Verbena.

How do you identify lemon verbena?

Identify my lemon verbena

It's spearlike, pale-green leaves are arranged in groups of 3 and end in a point. They almost appear sessile due to their extremely short petioles. The flowers release a strong lemon scent when crushed. It's little flowers are grouped loose ears around 10 cm in length.

What is the scientific name for Verbena?

Verbena officinalis, the common vervain or common verbena, is a perennial herb native to Europe. It grows up to 70 cm high, with an upright habitus. The lobed leaves are toothed, and the delicate spikes hold clusters of two-lipped mauve flowers.

What does lemon verbena mean?

: a small shrub (Aloysia triphylla) of Chile and Argentina that has narrow lemon-scented leaves.

How do you identify verbena?

Verbena has squarish stems and may be confused with the Mints until you examine the flowers. The flowers are mostly bisexual and slightly irregular. They bloom in elongated spikes. There are typically 5 united sepals and 5 united petals, forming a tube with unequal lobes.

Is Lemon Verbena safe?

When taken by mouth: Lemon verbena is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in alcoholic beverages. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken in appropriate amounts as a medicine, short-term. It can cause skin irritation (dermatitis) in some people.

What is lemon verbena good for?

Lemon verbena is used for digestive disorders including indigestion, gas, colic, diarrhea, and constipation. It is also used for agitation, joint pain, trouble sleeping (insomnia), asthma, colds, fever, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, skin conditions, and chills.

What smell is verbena?

The oil produced by the verbena plant is typically yellow or green, and offers a fruity, citrus scent, hence its common epithet, lemon verbena.

What does verbena symbolize?

There is also a lot of symbolism associated with the verbena flower. The language of flowers has long been used as a subtle or secret way to convey meaning. ... Verbena flowers are also symbolically used to represent healing, creativity, and happiness. They are even used for protection against harm and evil.

What is verbena English?

: vervain especially : any of numerous garden vervains of hybrid origin widely grown for their showy spikes of white, pink, red, or blue flowers which are borne in profusion over a long season — compare lemon verbena.

Can you use lemon verbena in cooking?

This lemon-scented herb has a number of culinary uses ranging from rich roasts to sweet citrusy desserts and jams. Lemon verbena can be used to make flavorful olive oil-based salad dressings, subtle lemon ice cream, and lemon verbena jelly, as well as season poultry dishes, salsa verde, and soups.

Can you eat lemon verbena raw?

Lemon Verbena is an incredibly versatile herb, appropriate for both sweet and savory dishes. The young leaves are sweet and tender and may be eaten raw in pestos, vinaigrettes and salads. ... Fresh leaves should be wrapped in damp paper towels and refrigerated.

Does verbena smell like lemon?

Verbena has the strong citrus smell of lemon but more grassy, like citronella, than fruity. The leaves that produce the compelling scent are pointed, shiny and grow to a length of 3 inches. With a bunched, shrub-like appearance, verbena produces light purple flowers in the summer.

What does verbena flower look like?

Colors and characteristics: Common garden varieties have tiny, fragrant flowers in saucer-shaped clusters up to 3 inches across. The most common flower colors include shades of pink, red, purple, coral, and blue-violet, as well as bicolored varieties.

Does verbena come back every year?

Several species of plants fall under the genus Verbena. Although a few of these are annuals and need to be replanted each year, many more are perennials and come back year after year. As a perennial, verbena grows well in zones 7-11, but as an annual in cooler climates and zones.

How tall does verbena get?

Verbenas vary considerably in size. The ground skimming moss verbena and trailing verbena reach 1 foot or less in height and spread from 2 to 5 feet wide. Verbena rigida usually grows 1 to 1½ feet tall, while purpletop vervain and the native blue verbena can reach 4 to 5 feet tall, but only a foot or two in width.

Can you drink lemon verbena tea?

Drinking lemon verbena tea is a natural way to help increase the amount of melatonin in your body. Lemon verbena's ability to soothe and relax, its rich melatonin content, and lack of caffeine make it an ideal evening drink.

Is Lemon Verbena good for the skin?

Lemon Verbena has mild astringent qualities that help in cleaning the skin and getting rid of bacteria that cause acne and pimples. It also aids in getting rid of mild facial scars and blemishes.

Can lemon verbena survive winter?

Rosemary, lemon verbena, and a few other perennial herbs are not reliably winter hardy. Extra winter protection can be provided by cutting plants back to within a couple inches of the ground after the first hard frost and covering the remaining stub with soil.

Does lemon verbena make you sleepy?

The same properties that help reduce tension and stress can calm the body and mind and help one prepare for a good night's sleep. Lemon verbena is also rich in melatonin, a hormone in our bodies that increases as night approaches, stimulated by darkness and causes you to become sleepy.

Is Lemon Verbena poisonous to cats?

Clinical Signs: Stomach upset, colic. No concerns if small amounts used in cooking or as flavoring agent.

What can I do with dried lemon verbena leaves?

Lemon verbena leaves are used to add lemon flavor to vegetable marinades, fish and poultry dishes, salad dressings, puddings, jams, Greek yogurt, and beverages.