Do you love the fragrance and flavor lemon? If so, why not include some lemon scented herbs in your garden? The following herbs are as essential in the kitchen as they are in the garden. They add delicious flavors to recipes and when pinched or brushed in the garden, they release a mouthwatering aroma.

Lemon thyme is perhaps the easiest of thyme species to grow in the Miss-Lou area and is often referred to as &uot;the darling of the thymes.&uot; This lemon scented herb is fabulous in fish, poultry and vegetable dishes. Dried leaves are used in potpourris and herbal pillows.

Because lemon thyme is a low growing evergreen, it is perfectly suited to spill over the side of a container or as a fragrant edging plant in the garden. Plant in well drained soil in full sun.

Lemon basil is a native of northwestern India and is an excellent herb to grow in our hot summer weather. As with many lemon scented herbs, the strong citral essence makes lemon basil the perfect complement to herbal teas, vinegars, salad dressings, fish and of course, pesto.

Plant lemon basil in well drained soil in the full sun and expect it to grow at least two feet tall. Lemon basil is a warm season annual that will last longer in the garden if it is prevented from flowering and producing seed. Harvest often during the summer to encourage continued leaf production.

Lemon balm has a wonderful lemony scent and has been in cultivation for at least 2,000 years. Growing between 12 and 18 inches tall, the foliage of this hardy perennial is more attractive in an area that is protected from the mid afternoon sun.

This easy to grow herb adds a nice flavor to herbal teas and may even have a calming effect. Use lemon balm as a garnish for drinks, and in salads, soups, sauces, herbal vinegar and fish recipes. Dried leaves are often used in potpourris and other herbal crafts.

Introduced in 1794 from Chile, lemon verbena has a sweet, lemon aroma. This versatile herb was popular in Victorian times and was known simply as ‘the lemon plant’. Fresh leaves are delicious in herbals teas, salad dressings or as a garnish. Dried leaves can also be used in teas and potpourri. Grow this herb in full sun and expect it to reach 3-4 feet in a season.

Lemongrass is an easy to grow, clump forming grass with aromatic leaves and stems. In India, lemongrass is planted in hopes of keeping tigers away. Popular in many Asian dishes, this herb is a useful ingredient in soups, fish and poultry recipes. Classified as semi-hardy perennial lemongrass can withstand temperatures of 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit if heavily mulched. Plant in full sun and expect plants to reach a height of three feet.

Crushed lemon scented geranium leaves have the fragrance of fresh lemon. Leaves are useful in teas, sugars, jellies and deserts. Before lemons were available to consumers as they are today, lemon geranium leaves were used to line the insides of cake pans. After a cake was baked, the leaves imparted a lemon fragrance and flavor to the dessert.

Dried leaves of scented geraniums are also used in potpourris and other herbal crafts.

Scented geraniums love the heat and are best suited for container growing since protection from winter freezes may be necessary. Grow in full to partial sun in a well drained soil. Expect plants to grow to two ft. in height and spread.

Add some lemon scented marigolds, lemon eucalyptus or lemon mint to complete the perfect garden of zest. Place a comfy chair in the midst of the fragrance and enjoy garden grown aroma therapy.

Traci Maier

writes Gardening Miss-Lou Style weekly. Contact here at

ratmaier@bellsouth.net

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