Lemon Balm : Lemon Balm

Fragrant lemon-scented leaves and white flowers are attractive to bees

Lemon Balm is a member of the mint family and has fragrant lemon-scented leaves and clusters of small white flowers that are attractive to bees. Lemon Balm's botanical name "Melissa" is Greek for "honey bee". The leaves can be used for flavoring teas, ice cream, fruit or in pesto and also have medicinal qualities. Lemon Balm is often included in sachets and potpourris.

Lamiaceae Melissa officinalis

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Lemon Balm: Lemon Balm

Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is valued as a culinary, cosmetic and medicinal herb. Lemon Balm has many medicinal uses, such as: calming nerves, reducing stress and anxiety, promoting sleep, improving appetite, and easing pain and discomfort from indigestion.

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Basics

Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Perennial
Growing Habit: -
Hardiness: Hardy

Lemon Balm is hardy down to zones 4, but can survive down to zone 3 if mulched.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring
Growing Season: Short, Long
Cultivar Type: -
Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm, Hot

Lemon Balm is pretty adaptable and will grow just about anywhere.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 45°F - 85°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 55°F

Start outdoors when 55˚ F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Part shade (Cool, Warm, Hot)

In dry climates, Lemon Balm will benefit from shade.

Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cool, Warm, Hot)

Lemon Balm prefers full sun, but is mildly shade-tolerant.
Water: Moderate

Requires constantly moist soil, make sure it never dries out. Keep Lemon Balm well watered but be sure not to overwater to the point that soil is soggy. Lemon Balm will survive periods of drought, but won't taste as well.
Feeder: Light

Lemon Balm is such a vigorous grower that it does not need much fertilization. Some compost before planting will help it get established, and a feed of calcium every 3 - 4 years can be beneficial.
Suitability: Drought tolerant, Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, High heat, Partial shade, Needs summer shade
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes

An excellent candidate for container gardening. It's recommended to use a 15 to 18" container, and divide the plants each Fall to discourage them from becoming root bound.
Attracts beneficial insects?: Yes
Color
Fruit Size: - "
Plant Height: 18.0 - 24.0"
Plant Diameter: 12.0 - 18.0"
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
Disease Resistance
Taste Profile: Lemony flavor.
Rotation Group: Perennial

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Lemon Balm : Lemon Balm

Fragrant lemon-scented leaves and white flowers are attractive to bees

Lemon Balm

Basics