Sweet Almond Bush

Description

Botanical Name:  Aloysia virgata

Common Name:  Sweet Almond Bush, Almond Verbena, Incense Bush, Sweet Almond Verbena, White Almond Bush

Description:  Ya looking for a medium shrub that blooms very fragrant white flowers from late spring till hard freeze that attracts every single pollinator out there?? Well, my fellow flower freaks, this plant is for you. Aloysia virgata is a moderately coarse textured upright multi-stem shrub with arching secondary branches. It’s a perennial here, so it’ll go dormant in the winter unless it’s in a warm micro-climate in your garden. I grew this in full sun when I lived in Florida, and once it was established only gave it supplemental water if it didn’t rain for a couple of weeks. It’s a very fast grower: mine got 15′ x 15′ in five years (the pic in the gallery of it by the white house is mine). Here it grows 6-8′ tall and wide. Did I mention that the very fragrant flowers smell like almonds???? I love this shrub, and am so excited that I have a supplier who grows it cause I think y’all will love it too. Sweet Almond Bush is native to Argentina, and adapts to our heat and humidity with no problem. It has a very informal growth habit. Deer definitely don’t like the rough leaves.

This plant in 1-gallon containers is 1-2′ tall and wide.

This plant in 3-gallon containers is 3-4′ tall and wide.

Fun Fact:  Sweet Almond Bush was named the 2008 Florida Plant of the Year.

Hardiness Zones 8 – 11