Melissa officinalis

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lemon balm

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lemon balm RHS 2002
lemon balm visionspictures.com

Other common names

balm, balm leaf, balm oil plant, barm leaf, bee balm, dropsywort, honey plant, pimentary, sweet balm, sweet Mary, tea balm

Herbaceous Perennial Herbs - Culinary
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An aromatic, bushy perennial up to 1m tall and wide. Heart-shaped leaves are lemon-scented with scalloped edges are 2-8 cm long. Leafy spikes of creamy-white or pale purple flowers are full of nectar, attracting bees and other pollinators in summer. The leaves are often used as a culinary herb

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H7

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Foliage
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Lamiaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Melissa are herbaceous perennials with broadly ovate, aromatic leaves and small 2-lipped white flowers in spikes in summer
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in any moist soil, in full sun or partial shade. Protect from excessive winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by division in spring or autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back hard after flowering to promote fresh leaf growth and to prevent self-seeding. See lemon-balm cultivation for more advice

Pests

May be susceptible to sage leafhopper

Diseases

Generally disease-free. Verticillium wilt may rarely occur