Woody > Aloysia > Aloysia virgata > Aloysia virgata
Aloysia virgata
Sweet Almond Bush
Origin: Native to South America.
Mike's
Opinion
"
The sweet almond bush is a great plant to put in house gardens, as it is perennial and fragrant of sweet almonds. The bush also attracts a lot of pollinators, making it a very attractive option for garden growth. They have beautiful white flowers that complement most gardens and backyards.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Verbenaceae |
| Genus |
| Aloysia |
| Species |
| virgata |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (deciduous) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 8a - 11b |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 8a - greater than 9a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H1c - H4 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-9.4) - (-6.7) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| 10 - 15 |
| Height |
| 1.5 - 4.5 m |
| Spread |
| 1 - 2.5 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Deciduous, glossy green shrub that blooms beautiful white flowers in early summer that are fragrant of sweet almonds. |
| Landscape |
| The beautiful glossy green leaves are covered in small white fragrant flowers from mid-summer to the first frost. The flowers smell strongly of sweet almonds with a fruity undertone. These smells consume the garden, making it very attractive for urban gardening. The flowers also attract many bees and other pollinators, making them even more attractive to have in a garden. They are primarily used for bordering, containers, and rock gardens. |
| Cultivation |
| The plant needs to be in full and direct sunlight with dry to medium wet well-draining soil. It tolerates any soil pH but grows best in fertile soil. It is also very drought tolerant as well as moderately salt tolerant. Should be grown after the risk of frost has expired. It must be pruned, but only after it has flowers as the blooms grow on new growth. |
| Shape |
| The plant is upright and larger plants can have an arching form. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| It has medium sized green glossy leaves that have serrated edges, there are clusters of small fragrant bell-shaped white flowers at the ends of new growth. It is fast growing. |
| Pests |
| This plant has no serious pests, but if brought inside for the winter white flies may become an issue. |
| Habitat |
| The sweet almond bush requires well-draining soil, so they are most commonly found at the edge of forests and in open woodlands. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Multi stemmed and has hairs on each stem. As the plant ages the hairs disappear. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Little to no information is found on the internet about the flower buds. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves are dark to mid green, glossy, and are simple ovate toothed leaves. 4 inch long by 2 inch wide. |
| Flower Description |
| The inch-long flowers are white and bell-shaped with 4-lobes. |
| Fruit Description |
| Dry tan-brown round capsules. |
| Colour Description |
| Glossy green with white flowers. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium. |
| Propagation |
| Propagated by seed and cuttings. Seeds take 3 to 4 weeks to germinate. Cuttings should be rooted in spring or early summer. Cover the cuttings with a plastic bag to capture moisture. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| Leaf juices may be used to help with skin diseases. The leaves can also be used to treat diabetes. They contain laetrile, or vitamin B17. It is a poisonous compound, but in small doses it can help with digestion. |
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