If you love plants, one of the reasons you might have this hobby is the aroma they give off. And it is that, sometimes, not only do flowering plants smell, there are also others whose leaves smell where they are. So, what if we offered you plants that smell like lemon? It is a smell that appeals to many, and the truth is that in nature there are many options to choose from.
But, can’t you name more than one or two? Don’t worry, we made a list with plants that smell like lemon So you have a choice. Who would you stay with?
lemon balm officinalis
Inside the plants that smell of lemon, the lemon balm officinalis is one of the best known. However, it is not so much because of its scientific name. But if we tell you it’s the well-known lemongrass plant or lemon leaf, things will change.
We are talking about an evergreen plant. It is native to southern Europe and is characterized by toothed leaves and a very intense green color.. In summer, it produces flowers that can be white or pale pink. These flowers are the ones that, when squeezed or you rub the petals, give off that lemony smell.
In fact, sometimes the leaves themselves also have a certain smell of this citrus fruit.
geranium citronella
Also marketed as Citronella Pelargonium Mosquitoas it is usually sold especially during the summer months for mosquito control due to its lemon smell.
This plant is Native to South Africa and it’s the leaves that have that smell, not so much the flowers. They actually behave like normal geraniums, but when you move the leaves, touch them, or rub them, you’ll instantly notice that lemony smell.
Lemongrass
Also called lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus or lemongrass, is another of the plants that smell of lemon just as well known as the previous one. It is also marketed in the summer, mainly because of that smell that mosquitoes don’t like (and that way they try not to enter homes).
It is native to Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia and is characterized by elongated leaves that almost stick out of the ground in the form of bushes. They are the ones that have this lemon scent, but it also gives flowers. For this, spikes are formed, from which flowering is grouped.
This, yes, It is not easy to keep because it needs a warm climate and does not tolerate cold.Thus, many, in winter, perish while being outdoors (or even indoors).
lemon scented trees
If you want to have not a small plant but a big tree, which also smells like lemon, we can give you some suggestions. And there are trees that have a lemon aroma, either in the leaves or even in the bark. Look for Eucalyptus staigeriana, Leptospermum petersonii or Acronychi acidula. Better known as lemon eucalyptus, lemon tea tree or aspen.
By itself, only when warm does it emit this smell, as a rule, if it does not move or if the sun does not hit it, the smell will not come out of it.
lemon thyme
Its scientific name is Thymus citriodorus, which already tells you that it is a citrus-smelling plant. In this case, lemon thyme is native to the Mediterranean. He is quite hard, like most thymesand grows very easily in the garden.
This, yes, It requires moist soils and plenty of direct sun.
As for its characteristics, it has rather small leaves and instead of green they are yellow or almost golden. When you rub or crush them, they have that lemon scent.
Lemongrass
It is one of the also known lemon-scented plants. It is Cymbopogon citratus, native to Asia. It is characterized by being perennial and born in groups, and can be quite tall. It’s the stems and leaves themselves that smell of lemon. But unlike other plants, this It just has a very sweet scent. It’s not as intense as the others.
lemon verbena
In this case, this plant that we present to you is actually deciduous. It comes from South America and is also found in Central America and the most striking thing about the plant is its leaves.
It is quite dense in this regard and it is the leaves themselves that smell of lemon. However, you should know that even dry, they also retain that citrus aromathat is why many use them both on the plant and by harvesting the leaves to flavor spaces.
Of course, it is one of the plants that will need the most sun, as well as moist soil to be able to develop properly.
lemon mint
Surely you know the mint plant. But what about lemon mint? It’s the same and we’re talking about Monarda citriodora. It is an annual or biennial plant (it depends a lot on the plant). Its origin is in North America and unlike mint, it offers a lemon aroma.
At the end of the plant’s season, this scent changes a bit, and some say it smells like oregano.so you should know just in case.
lemon mint
And speaking of more well-known plants, but with their variants, in addition to lemon mint, you can also get lemon mint. In this case, instead of smelling like mint, you will get a plant that smells like this citrus fruit.
It’s not easy to find but it’s doable. He has one quite strong and pleasant fragrance, but if you have cats this can be a problem because for them the smell that this plant gives off is not pleasant.
As you can see, there are many lemon-scented plants that you can decide to have. Our recommendation is that since some can be kept indoors and some outdoors, to achieve an “air freshening” effect throughout your home, you could place a few around your house and some outside. Of course, remember that everyone has their own needs and you have to meet them to make them last for a long time. Who would you stay with?