Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)

Type: Species | Edit History

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petunia (311)
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Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Melissa
Species: Melissa officinalis


Common Names add Dropsy plant edit \| delete Blue balm edit \| delete Cure-all edit \| delete Honey plant edit \| delete Balm mint edit \| delete Lemon Balm edit \| delete Common Balm edit \| delete Sweet balm edit \| delete Plant Types edit Deciduous Drought Tolerant Evergreen Fragrant Herb Invasive Medicinal Perennial Zones / Hardiness edit 3a (to -35 F / -37 C) 3b (to -30 F / -34 C) 4a (to -25 F / -32 C) 4b (to -20 F / -29 C) 5a (to -15 F / -26 C) 5b (to -10 F / -23 C) 6a (to -5 F / -21 C) 6b (to 0 F / -18 C) 7a (to 5 F / -15 C) 7b (to 10 F / -12 C) 8a (to 15 F / -9 C) 8b (to 20 F / -7 C) 9a (to 25 F / -4 C) 9b (to 30 F / -1 C) Height (Maximum) edit 1 1/2 to 2 feet (45 to 60 cm) Spread (Maximum) edit 2 to 5 feet (60 cm to 1 1/2 m) Flowering Start edit May Flowering End edit September Leaf Colour edit Green - Medium Leaf Shape edit Opposite Have you a suggestion for a plant property that we are missing? Please let us know.	Suitable For edit Border/Bed Edging Butterfly Garden Sun Exposure edit Full Sun Partial Shade Full Shade Soil Types edit Well-drained Clay / Heavy Soil pH edit 6.5 - 6.9 (Very slightly acidic) 7.0 (Neutral) 7.1 - 7.5 (Very slightly alkaline) Bloom Colour edit White Wildlife Value edit Bees Butterflies (larvae/caterpillar food) Propagation Techniques edit Seed Division Skill Level edit Beginner Additional Short Notes add For longer notes please use the Opinions area below Ask a Question about this Plant on our Forums

Members who grow this plant also grow...
	Calendula officinalis (Pot Marigold, English Marigold)
	Hyssopus officinalis (Hyssop)
	Sporobolus heterolepis (Prairie Dropseed)
	Hydrangea macrophylla (Bigleaf Hydrangea, Mophead Hydrangea)

Contributors For This Plant

	toni (14372)
	Frank (2307)
	Netty (10292)
	gardenplansireland (195)
	petunia (311)
	Jewell2009 (2905)
	Peppersage (122)
	John Joseph (1)

Gardens Containing This Plant

	Netty's Garden
	toni's Garden
	petunia's Garden
	Green_Numb's Garden
	Jewell2009's Garden
	IBinsanity's Garden
	tmholding's Garden
	udoit2urself's Garden
	byogi's Garden
	aythya-camellia's Garden

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Add Your Opinion About This Plant

gardenplansireland (195) wrote on Aug 09 2008

To calm your nerves further and avoid excessive maintenance, it may benefit you to plant Lemon balm in a container. Like mint, it tends to spread a bit.

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petunia (311) wrote on Aug 07 2008

Using dry leaves, can be made into tea. Also used to calm the nerves.

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1 person likes this opinion

John Joseph (1) wrote on Jun 27 2009

One of the previous writers was too kind about lemon balm in saying that "it tends to spread a bit".

We are in southern Wisconsin and it has spread out of the herb garden to take over a large part of the lawn.

I like to do mechanical control, but each year, the spread of this plant seems to get worse and worse. A pot is definitely the way to go !

John Joseph

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Images for this Plant


Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) photo / image / picture
Uploaded Aug 07 2008 by petunia (311)	I like this image 1 person likes this image
This image is copyright of member petunia (311). You must contact this member if you have a usage request.


Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm) photo / image / picture
Uploaded Aug 10 2008 by Peppersage (122)	I like this image 4 people like this image
This image is copyright of member Peppersage (122). You must contact this member if you have a usage request.

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