Lemon Verbena & Pineapple Sage Surprise

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I’ve been surprised by the growth of my lemon verbena and pineapple sage plants this year. These plants are lush and full-bodied, more so than in previous years.

I’m growing these herb plants up on the porch under the eaves.

Lemon Verbena Plant:

The leaves of lemon verbena have a distinct lemon scent. This makes them valuable for their fragrance and for adding a citrus flavor to culinary dishes.

Lemon verbena is also used in body sprays, essential oils, and cleaners. I like a spray cleaner from Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day line with a lemon verbena scent.

The lemon verbena plant can also be used to make tea. You can buy loose lemon verbena leaves or premade tea bags online. Dried and fresh lemon verbena can be used in desserts, soups, jams, and cocktails. It adds a citrusy taste to lemonade recipes.

Pineapple Sage:

Pineapple sage is a herb known for its sweet, pineapple-like fragrance, edible flowers, and attractive red blooms. It’s easy to care for, has fast growth, and can attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

It is a valuable herb in traditional medicine and aromatherapy. Its sweet, pineapple-like scent can create a calming atmosphere and lift spirits. We all need that.

The lemon verbena and pineapple sage plants are up on the porch this year. They’re supposed to get at least 6 hours of sunlight daily, but they’re doing great without much sun.

How To Use Pineapple Sage:

Pineapple sage leaves are edible and can be steeped in hot water to make an herbal tea. The buds will produce a steady supply of flowers for your garden, which you can cut freely.

Pineapple sage leaves and flowers are edible and can be eaten raw. They are often used in salads, garnishes, or to flavor drinks and desserts.

Below are other herbs I’m growing in pots.

Pineapple Mint:

Another herb plant I haven’t grown before is pineapple mint.

Pineapple mint leaves can be used to infuse oils, vinaigrettes, sauces, and beverages like tea. It is also an attractive garnish.

Like any mint, it can get out of hand, so growing it in a pot is probably wise. It has been known to escape through the drainage holes in the bottoms of pots and even jump from pot to pot in container groupings. I’ll have to keep an eye on that.

The essential oils that flavor the herb are at their highest concentration in the morning, so it’s best to harvest mint leaves early in the day.

Pineapple mint is generally safe for human consumption, but there are a few situations where you should exercise caution or avoid it altogether. People with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) should avoid mint, including pineapple mint, as it can worsen their symptoms.

Mint’s strong scent, especially menthol, is not appealing to many insects, including mosquitoes. To repel pests and mosquitoes, you can grow mint plants in gardens, make sprays or infused oils, or crush leaves.

Chives:

I planted chives and flowers in the same pot as the lemon verbena plant.

Chives can be used as a garnish, added to eggs, sandwiches, and sauces, or blended into butter. I mostly snip chives to eat on baked potatoes, but have also used chives in salads and soups.

Using Strong Scents To Deter Pests:

The scent of lemon plants and many herbs deters pests. The strong citrus aroma, especially the limonene compound, is disliked by many insects, including ants, spiders, mosquitoes, and cockroaches.

Many other herbs can help deter pests in gardens. Herbs like rosemary, thyme, mint, lavender, catnip, and basil have strong scents that many pests find unappealing.

These herbs can be used as companion plants, pest repellent sprays, or strategically planted around your garden to create a natural barrier against pests.

Lemon Balm:

I looked for a lemon balm plant at the nursery, but they didn’t have it on their shelves. So I ordered and planted lemon balm seeds, but unfortunately, they did not come up. I was disappointed because I’ve had this plant in my garden for years.

I’ll keep looking for it. You might recall a big lemon balm plant growing through the cement cracks on the patio when I lived at my first apartment.