Description
The Sweetest Smelling Flowers For Your LandscapeGrown best in full sun and zones 8 – 11, the Aloysia Virgata is also known as Sweet Almond Verbena or Sweet Almond Bush. It’s native to Argentina and other warmer climates though it can do okay in some less ideal conditions. Aloysia Virgata is even a drought tolerant plant that doesn’t need a lot of watering from you.The large woody shrub is indigenous to Argentina and is mostly grown in Southern American states like Florida, Alabama, California, and Arizona. Sweet Almond Bush is a fast-growing plant that grows as a tree or shrub in zones 10 to 11, while it can be grown as a perennial in zones 8 to 9. Caring for your Sweet AlmondThe rounded evergreen sweet almond verbena can grow up to 12 feet wide and tall. Here is how you can care for the Aloysia Virgata in your home. LightYour sweet almond bush will demand full sun and partial shade. Overall, you should allow it to bathe in sunlight for around 5 hours each day. You can also keep rotating your plant, so all parts receive adequate light. WaterSweet almond verbena is naturally a drought-tolerant plant that can survive in hotter climatic regions. So, you don’t have to worry much if you tend to be a forgetful plant parent. You can water your plant twice a month or once every 15 days so that it grows beautifully and healthily. SoilAnother thing that makes Aloysia virgata an easy plant is how it can grow in multiple soil conditions. Anything from sandy soil, loamy soil, and clay works well for the woody shrub. Keeping the soil moist during the beginning years is preferable to encourage root growth. FertilizerAdding fertilizer will be significant to maintaining the sweet almond bush. Ideally, you should use a generalized landscaping fertilizer for this plant, but a slow-release fertilizer also works well. March, June, and August are the best months to feed your plant for healthy bush growth. Common Issues- Pests and DiseasesWhile it is easy to care for a sweet almond verbena, pests and diseases are common issues that come with the plant. You should always keep an eye out for black knots, wilting, dieback, cankers, and leaf spots on your sweet almond plant. As for the pest’s situation, Japanese beetles, spider mites, caterpillars, and aphids can often attack. PruningSweet almond bush is not a high-maintenance shrub when it comes to pruning, as it does not need much deadheading. You will only need to prune the flowering shrub once a year to promote blooming in growing seasons. On the other hand, some plant parents also prefer pruning their Aloysia Virgata to maintain the fullness and compactness of the bush. Late summers are the best time to prune your while you should avoid winter pruning so as to not cut off the upcoming season’s buds. PropagationPropagating the sweet almond verbena is an easy and simple task. The two common methods are softwood cuttings and greenwood cuttings. Take cuttings from the plant that are equal to the length of your hand and trim them. Then place them in a transparent plastic bag until the roots begin to grow. The ideal time for sweet almond bush propagation is in late springtime or early summers. Potting/RepottingRepotting an established sweet almond bush is not a good idea as it can often shock the plant. However, you can still do so with precautions. You should water the soil well to make it easier for you to dig the shrub up. Now place it in a wide hole that can easily house the root ball of your plant. Make sure you use burlap to shift the root ball into the newly-dug hole.
