Lemon Verbena

I started the Lemon Verbena (Aloysia citrodora) in my garden from cuttings.  Every winter I prune it to the ground and by summer it has grown six feet. The plant is native to western South America.

I use it to make summer drinks (left to right): lemon verbena lemonade, lemon verbena iced tea, and lemon verbena and black tea mixed.

I crush the leaves and mix them in batter to make a lemon cake.