Botany
A deciduous perennial shrub that grows up to 5 meters tall. It has a woody stem, pale green lanceolate leaves that are very fragrant and small pale purple flowers that grow in terminal clusters and bloom in August.
Traditional Folklore & Uses
Used in perfumery
The aroma has inspired writers to in an effort to capture its essence, both crisp and relaxing at the same time. Due to its strong aroma, lemon verbena is used in perfumery, as well as a flavoring in baking, jelly making and preserving. The flavor has been compared to combination of licorice and camphor. It is widely used as an herbal flavoring to replace oregano, particularly in fish and poultry dishes.