Melissa officinalis
Lemon Balm
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Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Description
Use lemon scented leaves in teas, potpourris. Start early indoors or outdoors after danger of frost.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Blooming
Members of this genus are not grown for their flowers. Blooms 2-lipped, tubular, pale yellow or white flowers in summer. Flowers attract bees and various other insects.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Growth
Herbaceous perennials. Grows to about 2 ft. tall. Spreads quickly and may become weedy. Grows best in full sun. M. officinalis is drought tolerant, and works well in a herbaceous or mixed border. Also makes a nice addition to a herb garden. Lemon balm is good for containers as well. The leaves are often used as potpourri or in herbal tea.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Planting
Plants self-sow. Propagate from the seed in spring. Sow in containers in a cold frame (for protection and to ensure hardiness). Conduct division when growth begins, in spring or fall. Another option is to purchase nursery grown plants and space 2" apart in spring.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Pest
Pest free for the most part. Occasionally affected by powdery mildew, especially where air circulation is poor.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Interesting facts
There are only 3 known species of Melissa, found in damp wastelands from Europe to Central Asia. Melissa occurs in this habitat from sea level to mountains.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) - Soil and irrigation
Protect from excessive winter moisture. Does best in moist, rich soil with good drainage. However, the the most intense fragrance from leaves comes from plants grown in poor soil.
