Botanically known as Aloysia virgata, a sweet almond bush is a large shrub indigenous to Argentina. This Aloysia genus belongs to the verbena plant family Verbenaceae. Depending on where it is planted, it is deciduous, evergreen, or semi-evergreen.
Aloysia virgata is an upright to rounded shrub/tree, reaching up to 15′ feet tall in height and spreading up to 12′ feet in width. The plant usually has evergreen leaves in warmer climates while it grows as a deciduous plant in cooler regions. In subtropical climates, the plant swanks semi-evergreen leaves. These versatile leaves are usually oval in shape with a smooth surface and a grayish-green color. Sweet almond bushes develop long, pointy spiked flower clusters with pretty white blooms. These flowers are supremely fragrant and fill the garden with a sweet scent of vanilla or almonds. Sweet almond flowers have an extensive bloom period. They stay abloom all summer long and well into fall.
