Lively and Lemony

I carefully troweled the last of the dirt around the spindly little plant. Tuan (the lawn ornament that walks like a cat) eyed me skeptically. "It's lemon verbena, pussycat," I said playfully. "It's not to eat." He batted the stem with a paw and I picked him up. "It's not to play with, either. It's a herb for humans." His look implied that plants were actually put on the planet for the comfort and recreation of the feline species -- but that they'd gracefully allow their human pets to enjoy them. And I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the lemon verbena flourish.

Plants trace the path of human history. Never content to travel without our prized possessions and familiar foodstuffs, human beings are responsible for much of the spread of vegetation over the planet. Although most migration went from the Old World to the New World, explorers discovered it growing in the warm, moist areas of Argentina and Chile. It's lovely lemony scent charmed them (remember, this was in the era when folks seldom bathed and perfumes were much in demand) and they took a number of plants back to the Spanish courts. It grew well even in this alien land and soon became commonly cultivated in Europe (particularly France, where it's one of the major crops for perfumes and spices.) The modest American Cousin had become a hit with the Old World Aristocrats. Today it can be found growing wild throughout the warmer parts of the Americas and Europe as well.

This is no low-growing wallflower but rather a full-sized shrub. that can grow up to 15 feet tall under the best of conditions. This is not, however, a good herb for Texas (as I discovered much to my dismay) because it needs not only warmth but water as well. Lots of water. You'd swear it was descended from water lilies. Its sensitivity to cold is legendary, too. The good news is that it makes a dandy container garden plant, content to stay within its pot (unlike the ever-enthusiastic mints) although it only grows to medium height (4-6 feet) at most when potted properly. In garden plantings it's a good contrast for lower growing, stronger-colored plants. Its fragrant, lemony-smelling narrow leaves and delicate white flowers make it a delightful choice for a warm and sunny spot

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