Common Balm Melissa officinalis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mel-ISS-ah oh-fiss-ih-NAH-liss
- Description
-
Lemon balm is a bushy herbaceous perennial of the mint family that is typically grown in herb gardens and border fronts for its lemon-scented leaves. It was introduced from Europe and has naturalized throughout much of North America.
It prefers well-drained soils in sun to part shade but tolerates poor soils and drought once established. This plant will self-seed and spread aggressively by rhizomes, so it is best to grow in a container on a patio or deck where it is unlikely to escape into the landscape. Prune to remove spent flower stalks and encourage new growth for a better-looking plant. New leaves are more flavorful than mature ones.
Problems: Powdery mildew, leaf spot, leaf blight and gray mold may occur.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Herb & Flower Cottage Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'All Gold'
- 'Aurea'
Variegated leaves
- 'All Gold'
- 'All Gold', 'Aurea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'All Gold'
- 'Aurea'
Variegated leaves
- 'All Gold'
- 'All Gold', 'Aurea'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Melissa
- Species:
- officinalis
- Family:
- Lamiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The herb has been used medicinally. Dried leaves can be used in sachets and potpourri.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Europe
- Distribution:
- Throughout much of the US
- Wildlife Value:
- Deer resistant
- Edibility:
- Leaves and flowers can be used for teas and flavorings of soups, stews etc.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Mounding
- Multi-stemmed
- Open
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Produces many viable seeds
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Long-lasting
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White flowers are borne in whorls in the axils of terminal leaves. They are tiny, two-lipped and inconspicuous and appear throughout the summer. Bees love them.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Up to 3 inches long oval, wrinkled, green leaves occur in pairs. Margins are crenate.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green stems can become somewhat wood with age.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Humidity
- Insect Pests
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy
