I have two lemon verbena shrubs in my garden and I adore them.  They smell delicious, look amazing and my bee’s love the prolific delicate white flowers they produce for me at least twice in a growing season.

I use the leaves from my lemon verbena plant to make a tea that I drink every morning with breakfast and sometimes for afternoon tea.  It makes a very pleasant refreshing drink just perfect to get me started for the day. I add the picked leaves, flowers an all, into a tea pot and just add hot water.  Leave to brew for 5 minutes.  

During summer time, when lemon verbena is at its best here in Western Australia, I take a small cutting each morning, for my tea,  straight off the bush.  Picking it like this stimulates the plant to grow more and it prevents it getting too ‘leggy’. I also freeze the leaves to provide a year round supply.  The plant loses its leaves in winter time and gradually grows back in the Spring.I am not keen on tea made from dried leaves.  However I do prune and dry heaps of lemon verbena leaves to use in my craft work.  

leaves stored in my pantry with the rest of my stored goods

dried leaves stored in repurposed rice sack

For example I make herb pot mats and little fabric clothing protectors for my home and as gifts for family and friends.  I also have a monthly market stall and an etsy shop where I sell them to crafty herb lovers.  

herb pot mat containing lemon verbena and other healing herbs