Botanical name | Melissa officinalis |
---|---|
Plant Care | Full Sun Full Sun – Prefers 6 or more hours of sun per day. Half Sun Half Sun – Prefers 3 To 6 Hours of Sunlight a Day. Frost Sensitive Frost Sensitive – Will Get Damaged and Possibly Killed During Periods of Frost. Moderate Watering Moderate Watering – Requires Regular Watering. Pruning Required Pruning Required – Needs to be Pruned. Non Indigenous Non Indigenous – Exotic to South Africa. |
Size | |
Categories | |
Common name(s) | Lemon balm |
Origin | |
Foliage | This looks rather like common mint, and has a similar spreading habit. Lemon balm leaves have a strong lemon scent. |
Uses in landscape design | Lemon balm is ideal for containers in semi-shaded positions. |
Planting instructions | Seeds can be sown from spring to late summer. |
Maintenance | Water twice a week, add compost in late winter and midsummer. Trim back over grown stems once a year to promote for new growth. |
Soil conditions | Likes moist, rich soil. |
Uses | Lemon balm leaves have a strong lemon scent. They are used to flavour poultry, fish and pork dishes, as well as fruit salads, puddings and custards. |
Wildlife attractions | Lemon balm attracts bees that help with pollination in the garden. |
Interesting planting ideas | Lemon balm planted near cucumbers and tomatoes, will increase the yield and the flavour in both, and even though bees are attracted to lemon balm, other insects don't like it – aphids and whitefly won't come near it. |
Interesting info | It has always been associated with the relieving of melancholy, and is used today in aromatherapy to combat depression. |
Propagation | Propagate from existing plants, either by root division or from tip cuttings taken during summer. |
Possible problems | Seeds are slow to germinate. |
Harvest | The leaves can be picked any time of the year, handle carefully to prevent bruising. |
When to sow |
Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm)
- Botanical name: Melissa officinalis
- Common name(s): Lemon balm
- Categories: Herbs
Plant description:
This looks rather like common mint, and has a similar spreading habit. Lemon balm leaves have a strong lemon scent.
Family: Lamiaceae
Botanical Pronunciation: MEE-LISS-uh uh-fiss-ih-NAY-liss.
Melissa officinalis requirements and features
info on these iconsModerate Maintenance
Requires moderate maintenance.
Prohibited Use Notice: No Data Scraping Allowed Except for Search Engine Indexing:
The content provided on PlantInfo.co.za is intended for personal, non-commercial use only. Unauthorized extraction, reproduction, or use of the data, including scraping, for any purpose other than search engine indexing is strictly prohibited. Violations of these terms may result in legal action. By accessing and using this website, you agree to comply with these conditions and acknowledge the legal restrictions on the use of our content.
This looks rather like common mint, and has a similar spreading habit. Lemon balm leaves have a strong lemon scent.