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Food

Lemon Verbena

What is lemon verbena?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Scientific name Aloysia citrodora[2]
Family Verbenaceae[2]
Native range South America[2]
Common name lemon beebrush[2]
Use flavor food and make tea[1]
Leaf trait lemonlike fragrance[1]

Lemon verbena is a flowering shrub native to South America, known for its lemon-scented leaves used to flavor food and make tea.

Context

Lemon verbena is a flowering shrub in the verbena family, native to South America, with leaves that smell like lemon and are used to flavor food and make tea [1]. It is also called Aloysia citrodora and is sometimes called lemon beebrush [2]. It is used in perfumes [1]. It is sometimes confused with other herbs like lemon grass and lemon balm.

Documented claims

  • Lemon verbena is used in perfumes. [1]
  • Lemon verbena is used to make tea. [1]

Related

  • Meyer LemonMeyer lemon is a citrus fruit often used in cooking, similar to lemon verbena.

Questions and answers

What is lemon verbena good for?

Lemon verbena is used to flavor food, make tea, and in perfumes [1].

Can you eat lemon verbena raw?

Yes, lemon verbena leaves are edible and can be used fresh to flavor dishes [1].

Sources

  1. Aloysia citriodora (Lemon Beebrush, Lemon Verbena) — plants.ces.ncsu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. LEMON VERBENA Definition & Meaning — dictionary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Food