Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
📖 About this plant
Lemon balm is a fragrant mint-family herb with a delightful lemon scent, widely used for its calming and mood-lifting properties. Its leaves contain rosmarinic acid and citronellal, making it a popular tea for anxiety relief and improved sleep.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun to partial shade (4-6 hrs)
Every 2-3 days
Moderate (50-60%)
15-25°C
Well-drained loamy soil; tolerates clay if not waterlogged; pH 6.0-7.5
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly during growing season; compost top-dressing in spring
🌐 Common Names
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southern Europe, Mediterranean, Western Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 45-90 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic; may enhance effects of sedatives and thyroid medications
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seed sowing in spring; stem cuttings; division of clumps every 2-3 years
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic; may enhance effects of sedatives and thyroid medications
Common issues
- Powdery mildew
- Root rot from overwatering
- Spider mites
- Aggressive spreading
💡 Care tips
- Lemon-scented leaves used to reduce anxiety and promote sleep
- Member of the mint family so contain in pots to prevent spreading
- HARVEST leaves before flowering for the best flavor
- Attracts bees and beneficial insects to the garden
