I used to have some problems overwintering lemon verbena in the house. It should overwinter indoors if you keep in coolish and don't forget completely about watering (something which I tended to do with them). Then I discovered that they would overwinter for me outside planted against the house (on the east side). It dies back over winter and comes back very vigorously in the spring. I used to try to overwinter Rosemary and never had luck with it either. Now it too overwinters in a protected microclimate next to the verbena, bay laurel, and lavender. I do mulch some and there is some snow cover during the coldest weather so that must help. I love herbs but have never had much luck with them indoors and got tired of buying verbena every year. Good luck!

It's deciduous?! All of a sudden its prior behavior makes sense! Of course the leaves dropped. I'm amazed it didn't occur to me before. Thanks! What zone is it native to? I had heard it was a Mediterranean herb, which would make any attempt at outdoor storage doomed in my zone 5.

I have a spot in a sunny, coolish basement window. herblady49, does this seem like a good spot?

That would be a great spot. Only water to keep it from getting dry but don't keep it wet. Lemon Verbena is a strong grower and I'll bet if you lift it out of the pot you will see it root bound. In the spring root prune by taking a small saw or a serated knife and cut a couple of inches off the bottom and slice down the sides and plant in fresh soil and fertilize with a good organic fertilizer.

Thanks! I've saved your tips and put them into a word doument to use next spring. (Now to make a folder "Open me in Spring!") I've never root pruned before.

Old thread but a godsend for me! I have a very lg pot with lemon grass, grapefruit mint and lemon verbena. Desperately trying to overwinter in zone 4. Last year inside did not go well. This year I will try a different spot in the house!

This is 11 years ago now, and I don't remember ever even growing it! Obviously I did not succeed with it for long.

That looks like Lemon balm, not lemon verbena.

Not Mediterranean - it is actually native to South America (Argentina and Chile) but not hardy below z8. Botanical name is Aloysia citrodora. The plant in the above photo is NOT lemon verbena - I'd agree it looks far more like lemon balm, Melissa officinalis, which is a herbaceous perennial (mint relative) hardy down to zone 3. Two very different plants that just share a similar fragrance.

I think the sprawling, cascading plant is probably grapefruit mint that the poster listed, not lemon balm. I don't think lemon balm cascades like that, It is more of an upright small bush. After studying the photo, I think I can see lemon verbena in the back, look at the terra cotta pot on the stone curbing. I see a couple of branches of a long narrow leaf plant that is probably planted on the back side of the lower pot.

I agree its a mint, as the poster says. You can see the flowers against the terracotta pot. And you can see the Lemon Verbena too although its a bit lost in the citrus foliage behind.