Lemon verbena, or lemon beebrush, was brought to Europe by the Spanish and Portuguese in the 17th century and cultivated for its oil. It has very aromatic leaves and can be used to make lemon-flavoured herbal teas. A summer flowering plant, it is a valuable food source for pollinating insects.

The flowers appear in late spring or early summer, sprays of tiny purple or white flowers on an open, upright, branched structure that sits above the foliage. Originally from South America, it is an evergreen that is sensitive to cold, losing its leaves at temperatures below 0°C. However, the wood is reputed to be hardy down to -10°C, so if damaged it will sprout again. In spring, when the weather begins to warm and the flowers appear, it can be pruned quite hard to encourage a bushy form. Because of its many culinary uses, it is often listed and marketed as a herb garden plant.