Lemon Balm

Description

Melissa officinalis – lemon balm

Botanical name: Melissa officinalis
Common names: Lemon balm
Family: Lamiaceae (mint family)
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial herb
Habit: Bushy, clump-forming
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 45–75cm tall × 45cm spread
Foliage: Wrinkled, aromatic bright green leaves with a fresh lemon scent
Flowers: Small white flowers in summer, much loved by bees (July–September)
Scent: Strongly lemon-scented foliage
Aspect / light: Full sun to partial shade
Soil: Most soils; moist but well-drained; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–9
Exposure: Sheltered or open; tolerant
Native range: Native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic to people and pets

Melissa officinalis, lemon balm, is an easy, bushy aromatic herb with wrinkled bright green leaves that release a fresh lemon scent when brushed. Loved by bees, it thrives in sun or partial shade.

GardenAdvice notes

A vigorous, easy-going aromatic herb, lemon balm forms bushy clumps of wrinkled, bright green leaves that give off a delicious fresh lemon scent when touched. Its botanical name Melissa comes from the Greek for ‘honeybee’, a nod to how much bees adore its summer flowers. Tough and adaptable, it grows almost anywhere, though it self-seeds freely and is best kept in check.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring in most soils in full sun to partial shade — it is very tolerant and easy, coping with a range of conditions. Give it moist but well-drained soil for the lushest growth. Space about 45cm apart. Be aware it self-seeds readily and can spread.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Cut it back through the season to encourage fresh, aromatic growth and to prevent excessive self-seeding — trimming before the seeds ripen is the key to keeping it in bounds. Cut down old growth in autumn or late winter. Divide congested clumps in spring. Keep it moist for the best foliage.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring.
• Seed: Sows itself very freely; seed can also be sown in spring.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and easy. Its main ‘issue’ is self-seeding, which can be prolific. Powdery mildew may appear in dry spells; cutting back produces fresh growth.

Uses in the garden

Useful in herb gardens, borders and containers, and as aromatic groundcover in a spot where its spread is welcome; letting it flower makes it a valuable plant for bees.

Wildlife value

Lemon balm is a superb bee plant — its very name means ‘honeybee’ — and its summer flowers are highly attractive to bees, hoverflies and other pollinating insects.

Toxicity & safety

Lemon balm is generally regarded as non-toxic to people and pets.

GardenAdvice tip

Lemon balm is one of the easiest herbs of all — brush past it and you get a lovely fresh lemon scent — but it does self-seed with great enthusiasm, so the trick is to shear it back before the flowers set seed. That both keeps it in bounds and triggers a flush of fresh, aromatic new leaves. In a small garden, growing it in a pot saves you weeding out seedlings.

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