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Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)

Type: Species | Edit History      Plant ID - 32565



Image added by
petunia (333)

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Rate this plant:

5 ratings



Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Melissa
Species: Melissa officinalis
 
Common Names add
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
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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
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Members who grow this plant also grow...
  Allium tuberosum (Garlic Chives)
  Monarda didyma 'Marshall's Delight' (Bee Balm)
  Zinnia violacea (Elegant Zinnia)
  Ajuga reptans (Carpet Bugleweed, Common Bugleweed)


Contributors For This Plant
toni (36069)
Frank (2698)
Netty (13946)
gardenplansireland (195)
petunia (333)
Jewell (5504)
Philip Nulty (153)
Peppersage (122)
  John Joseph (1)
Kay (765)
Karrma (184)
  Cayuga Morning (1356)


Gardens Containing This Plant
Netty's Garden
toni's Garden
petunia's Garden
Green_Numb's Garden
Jewell's Garden
IBinsanity's Garden
tmholding's Garden
 udoit2urself's Garden
 byogi's Garden
aythya-camellia's Garden
Kay's Garden
 marikelley's Garden
Philip Nulty's Garden
Karrma's Garden
 Cayuga Morning's Garden
 tkhooper's Garden
 aseedisapromise's Garden
zuzu's petals's Garden
 Jheff'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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3 people like this opinion



petunia (333) 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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1 person likes this opinion



Kay (765) wrote on Feb 05 2010
Rating for this plant:
Lemon balm has a wonderful fragrance, and a nice green colored foliage. I plant it in containers, as it is quite happy to spread all around the garden!

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Karrma (184) wrote on Jul 26 2011
Rating for this plant:
Lemon Balm came with the house we bought, and after a few years of trying to eradicate, I now "herd" it and weed whack it. It grows under our porch and deck as a groundcover, keeps the other weeds out, and makes a great tea or infusion for tisanes.

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  Cayuga Morning (1356) wrote on Sep 17 2011
Watch out for this one, it is pretty aggressive.....

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Images for this Plant


Photo of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
photo / image / picture
Uploaded
Aug 07 2008
by petunia (333)
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Photo of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
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Uploaded
Aug 10 2008
by Peppersage (122)
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Photo of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
photo / image / picture
Uploaded
Jun 11 2011
by Philip Nulty (153)
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Photo of Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
Melissa officinalis (Lemon Balm)
photo / image / picture
Uploaded
May 18 2011
by Philip Nulty (153)
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