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A large, South American shrub, it has rough, lemon-scented leaves (some hang on over winter) which are traditionally used to flavour herbal teas and spice up potpourris. The tiny lavender to white flowers start opening at the end of summer. Since it's not quite hardy, coming from Chile and Argentina, you need to grow it in a sheltered, sunny position, for example at the foot of a sunny wall, where it also needs free-draining, poor soil. This is vital because if the roots are locked in cold, damp soil all winter it will die. Alternatively, dig up young plants in the autumn, put in a pot, and keep in a frost-free greenhouse for planting out the following spring. When they start getting too big for this, take cuttings and start again with a new plant.