Lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora) or lemon beebrush is a terrific flowering shrub to add to your garden if you love to make delicious fragrant beverages or fruit salads.
This evergreen perennial will brighten your garden with its vivid green foliage. The delicate white flowers will attract plenty of pollinators to your garden and can also help manage pests and diseases.
This herb will grow healthy and strong if you pair it with companion plants like basil, coriander, garlic, dill, lemon balm, bee balm, or cilantro, and will help you create a lush and vibrant herb garden.
In this guide, we will take a closer look at these companions and discuss different ways to use them in your garden.Â
What to Grow with Lemon Verbena
If you want to create a healthy herb garden, pair plant species with similar growing needs together.
Lemon verbena is a plant that loves full sun, but it can also be grown in partial shade or an area with afternoon shade in warmer climates. This tender perennial will take well to most soil types and doesn’t need additional feeding or fertilizers.
The plant isn’t drought tolerant and should be watered frequently. It will flourish in moist soil but shouldn’t be kept in soggy conditions.
Look at some lemon verbena companions growing well in direct sun and moist soil.
Basil
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a wonderful perennial herb to add to any vegetable or herb garden. It is an excellent companion plant for lemon verbena because it will fill out your garden with its dense foliage growth.
The herb is easy to grow and should develop well if placed in a full-sun position. In warm and sunny regions, you can put it in partial sun. Basil flourishes in moderately fertile soil that drains well and should be watered regularly, or the leaves will wilt.
When you plant these two herbs together, you should be careful to leave lots of room because basil can grow bushy and wide.
Corriander
Corriander (Corriandrum sativum) or cilantro can be used to fragrance food, but many are not too fond of the strong fragrance of this herb. You can, however, also use it alongside lemon verbena to create a little medicinal garden because this herb is incredibly healthy and can promote your digestive system.
This annual herb will grow well in a sunny to lightly shaded area in your garden and should be planted in well-drained soil. The herb will grow well in containers, raised beds, or in gardens with lots of organic matter. As with lemon verbena, it is pretty water-dependent and should be kept moist.
Coriander forms bunches that can look striking alongside other herbs. It is best to plant these annuals in the front of your garden bed so you can quickly clear them away if they die.
Dill
Dill (Anethum graveolens) is one of the best lemon verbena companion herbs, and it will add lots of texture to your herb garden with its needle-like leaves. The beautiful herb also produces vivid yellow flowers that attract beneficial insects to your garden.
With its soft, feathery leaves, this annual herb will flourish if you plant it in well-drained soil rich in organic matter. The herb should receive a minimum of 6 – 8 hours of direct sunlight, or the tall stalks might start to flop over. As with lemon verbena, these annuals require regular watering but should be kept from waterlogged conditions.
You can combine dill and lemon verbena in a tea blend garden because both can be used to make fragrant teas. Dill is also a great food garnish and can be used in many recipes. Because dill tends to be shorter, growing it in a lane in front of your lemon verbena shrubs is best.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (M. Officinalis) is a member of the mint family and is a wonderful addition to your herb garden because it can also be used for brewing fragrant teas or flavoring foods. This herb can also be used as a ground cover to keep the soil around lemon verbena cool and moist.
Lemon balm will thrive if you place it in full sun to light shade with moist soil draining well. These plants take well to pots and garden beds as long as they are regularly watered.
When growing lemon balm with lemon verbena, you should regularly check on your garden and prune it if it gets out of hand. Left unattended, they will quickly spread all over the garden and can even smother the other plants.
Bee Balm
Bee balm (Monarda) is a terrific companion plant for lemon verbena because it will brighten up your herb garden with frisky flowers in bold colors like red or pink.Â
This flowering medicinal plant will flourish in a full sun position and can also grow in partial shade but won’t flower in a shaded position. Bee balm should be planted in well-drained soil, and it should be watered regularly.
Mix this flowering species with lemon verbena to create showy medicinal borders or hedges in your garden.
What NOT to Grow with Lemon Verbena
Since lemon verbena requires a lot of moisture, it is best to avoid growing it with plants that prefer dry conditions. You should avoid planting it with species like lavender, echinacea flowers, and yarrow.Â
It is also best not to grow this plant, or any other plant, alongside fennel because it can restrict other plant species’ growth.
Landscaping ideas for Lemon Verbena and Companions
Because lemon verbena is both functional and attractive, it can be used in various garden setups. Here is a quick look at some of the best landscaping uses for this exciting plant.
Herb Gardens
Lemon Verbena is a great plant to include in a mixed herb garden. You can combine it with other moisture-loving species like mint, lemon balm, coriander, dill, or basil to create garden spaces that look attractive. These types of gardens are great for making your own medicinal herbal tonics or for brewing fragrant teas.
Hedges or Borders
Lemon verbena forms an elegant shrub with a height of up to 6 feet tall. This shrub can be paired with other shrub herbs like bee balm, basil, or coriander to create interesting multi-purpose borders or hedges along walkways or around driveways.
Final Thoughts
A little herb garden or medicinal garden with lemon verbena companions like lemon balm, coriander, bee balm, dill, basil, or coriander can be a beneficial investment if you love to brew fine-tasting teas or whip up your own herbal tonics. These gardens will also add lots of interest to your garden spaces with their beautiful foliage, and their rich fragrance can attract lots of beneficial insects to your garden.
We hope our guide made finding suitable plants to combine with lemon verbena easier and that you can now grow a practical little garden filled with life and charm.
