Lemon Balm
Melissa officinalis
Also listed as Faucibarba officinalis, Mutelia officinalis
Also known as Balm, Common Balm, Garden Balm
Climate Match for your location
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A fragrant herbaceous perennial with lemon-scented leaves prized for culinary and medicinal uses. Produces delicate white or pale pink flowers and attracts pollinators to the garden.
Why grow it
Lemon balm offers a gentler lemon flavor than lemon verbena or citrus zest, making it suitable for culinary applications where a subtle note is preferred. It tolerates partial shade better than many sun-loving herbs and requires less consistent moisture than mint relatives, though it spreads readily in favorable conditions. The plant blooms over an extended period, providing reliable nectar for pollinators throughout summer.
Watch out for
Lemon balm self-seeds prolifically and can dominate garden space if not contained or deadheaded regularly. Flavor and aroma compounds diminish significantly after flowering, so harvest leaves before blooms appear for best culinary quality. In humid climates, powdery mildew may appear on foliage in late season, though this typically does not affect plant vigor.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Aurea is prized for golden foliage and milder flavor, while All Gold offers even brighter yellow leaves; both are less vigorous than the green species type.
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A fragrant herbaceous perennial with lemon-scented leaves prized for culinary and medicinal uses. Produces delicate white or pale pink flowers and attracts pollinators to the garden.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Lemon Balm grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Lemon balm offers a gentler lemon flavor than lemon verbena or citrus zest, making it suitable for culinary applications where a subtle note is preferred. It tolerates partial shade better than many sun-loving herbs and requires less consistent moisture than mint relatives, though it spreads readily in favorable conditions. The plant blooms over an extended period, providing reliable nectar for pollinators throughout summer.
Watch out for
Lemon balm self-seeds prolifically and can dominate garden space if not contained or deadheaded regularly. Flavor and aroma compounds diminish significantly after flowering, so harvest leaves before blooms appear for best culinary quality. In humid climates, powdery mildew may appear on foliage in late season, though this typically does not affect plant vigor.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar herbs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Notable Cultivars
Aurea is prized for golden foliage and milder flavor, while All Gold offers even brighter yellow leaves; both are less vigorous than the green species type.