One of my favorite herbs from the mint family is lemon balm. This lemony-scented herb does excellent in full sun to mostly shade. Personally, I like to use the leaves for teas as they impart an excellent flavor on their own. This is a great perennial herb that should be grown by everyone! moderator's note: removed website link, see point 1.1 of usage rules
Hi Nilla I love it too, especially mixed with dried flowers of hibiscus and dried, powdered peach....of course all strained. Delicious! Edit: Do you grow it? I've ordered lemon grass, because I heard the cat likes it, but I buy the balm at health food store. If you 're growing it, maybe you have a few hints to share
I grow Lemnon Balm here in Scotland. You have to be careful where you plant it though as it can become quite invasive but I do like to make lemon tea with it.
I grow it too and yes it does share itself with the rest of the garden,. I really think birds have a lot to do with some of the spread, I have found it 15-20 feet away from the closest plant.
Hello Nilla - I too love Lemon Balm. Smells so wonderful, and I think the leaves are attractive too. But after several experiences with it spreading out of it's bounds... I grow it in containers now, at my house. In gardens where I work, I pull it to keep it in check, and have a customer that loves to use it for tea, so she likes me to pull it regularly.
Lemon balm is very invasive so I, too, grow it in a pot or a big tub. It smells so great when you brush against it. I also like lemon verbana. dooley
I love lemon balm. Such a beautiful herb, and one of the most prolific herbs in the garden. When the plants are truly happy, they have a fragrance much like lemon flavored loli-pops. Best climate and site: Zones-4-9. Full sun is best for the development of essential oils. Ideal soil conditions: Sandy to loamy soil high in organic matter. Lemon balm prefers well drained soil, and under ideal growing conditions, the herb can reach a height of 2 feet. Flowering time for this beautiful, perennial herb is July thru October. Yellow or creamy white blossoms form in bunches at leaf axils. Lemon balm is a favorite herb of the honey bee. Collect the leaves in September, and dry them quickly to prevent them from turning dark. Cut the entire plant, leaving about 2 inches of stem. Tie the plants together in small bundles with twine or ribbon and hang them to dry upside down in a warm and well ventilated room. This should take about ten days or longer. Once the bundles are dry, strip the leaves from the stems and store the leaves in glass jars or metal tins. Make sure the lids fit snugly on the jars and tins. Store the dried leaves in a cool area away from heat and light. Use the leaves in cooking, baking, crafts, potpourri, or crumbled in the tea pot for a delicious and healthy tea. Trivia: The leaves lowest on the plants are said to be highest in essential oils.
