Photo: Kurt Stüber [1], CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Pruning guide · Herb
Lemon verbena: when and how to prune
Aloysia citrodora
Lemon verbena is best pruned in April.
| Pruning months | April |
|---|---|
| Flowering | July–September |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted |
Lemon verbena: when to prune it?
In April, when the first buds visibly swell. It is late to leaf up, so wait until you can see which stems are alive.
What else to prune in those months? April
Lemon verbena: how to prune it?
- Cut all stems back to two or three buds above the old wood, or to 20–30 cm for a compact plant.
- Remove dead and frost-damaged wood back to green wood; scratch the bark with a fingernail to see whether a stem is alive.
- In summer, pinch out the tips for a bushier plant; every harvest is a small prune too.
How much to cut, and how often?
- One pruning period a year: April.
What does it mean for wildlife?
- Lemon verbena flowers in July–September, when it attracts bees.
- If you only cut back in April, the old stems stand through the winter: insects overwinter in them and birds eat the seeds.
Caution: Do not throw out a bare plant too soon in spring: lemon verbena sometimes only reshoots in May or even June.
Nearby: related pruning guides
Plant profile: Lemon verbena · Pruning calendar and basic rules
This guide is compiled from the Bladwijzer plant profile and pruning calendar.