Lemon balm

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot climates.

Water

Moderate; keep new plants evenly moist, then water established plants during prolonged dry spells.

Soil

Well-drained soil with average fertility; tolerates clay if it does not remain waterlogged.

Height

1.5-3 ft (0.45-0.9 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), with seedlings appearing farther away

Flowers

Small white to pale pink flowers in leaf joints from summer into early autumn.

Foliage

Opposite, softly hairy, wrinkled green leaves with rounded teeth and a strong lemon scent when rubbed.

Growth

Fast

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen
• Fragrant
• Edible

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.6 ft (0.49 m)

3. After 2 years

   2.2 ft (0.68 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Water at soil level when the surface begins to dry; avoid keeping the roots constantly wet.
• Apply a thin layer of compost in spring; rich feeding is usually unnecessary.
• Mulch lightly to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Divide crowded clumps in spring every three or four years.
• Pull unwanted seedlings early; a pot contains the roots but does not prevent self-seeding.

Pruning. Harvest shoot tips regularly during active growth. Cut flowering stems back to leafy growth before seed ripens, and remove dead stems in late winter or early spring.

Pick healthy leaves and tender shoot tips from spring to autumn once the plant is about 15–20 cm (6–8 in) tall; in frost-free areas, light picking may be possible year-round. Harvest after the morning dew has dried, ideally before flowering, when the leaves are fresh green and smell strongly of lemon when rubbed. Snip stems just above a pair of leaves, taking no more than a third of the plant at a time.

Early spring

Remove dead stems and divide established clumps as new growth starts.

Spring

Plant young plants in well-drained soil and water them in thoroughly.

Late spring

Begin picking young leaves and shoot tips for kitchen use.

Summer

Water during dry spells and trim tired growth to encourage fresh leaves.

Late summer

Remove spent flower stems before seeds mature, leaving some flowers temporarily if you want to support bees.

Autumn

Pull unwanted seedlings and check that winter drainage is clear.

• Plant beside a kitchen path where leaves are easy to pick and brush for fragrance.
• Combine with chives, parsley and calendula in an informal herb or vegetable garden.
• Use in a large container near seating to enjoy the scent while keeping its clump contained.
• Include in a mixed pollinator border, allowing some stems to flower before cutting them back.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, Potager (kitchen garden), Sensory garden, Edible landscape, Herb parterre and Pollinator garden.

Plant it with: Chives, Parsley, Calendula, Nasturtiums and Bee balm.

Wildlife: The small flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinating insects. Regular harvesting prevents flowering unless you leave some stems uncut.

• Unwanted seedlings: remove flower stems before seeds ripen and pull seedlings while small.
• Powdery mildew: improve airflow, water the soil rather than the leaves, and cut back badly affected growth.
• Root or crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, avoid overwatering and replace badly rotted plants.
• Leaf scorch or wilting in hot, dry weather: provide afternoon shade and water deeply when the soil dries.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. The leaves are commonly eaten in small culinary amounts; eating large quantities may cause digestive upset. Concentrated extracts and essential oils should not be treated as equivalent to fresh leaves.

Where it spreads. Can spread aggressively by seed and expanding clumps in gardens in the United Kingdom, temperate United States, southern Canada and temperate southeastern Australia. It is naturalized outside its native range in many places; local invasive status varies, so check regional guidance before allowing it to seed near natural areas.

• Catnip (Nepeta cataria)

  Catnip usually has greyer, more triangular leaves and upright clusters of spotted whitish flowers; its crushed leaves lack lemon balm's clear lemon scent.

• Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

  Spearmint has a mint scent, generally narrower leaves and terminal flower spikes; lemon balm has broader, wrinkled leaves and small flowers tucked into the leaf joints.

• White dead-nettle (Lamium album)

  White dead-nettle has pointed, nettle-like leaves and much larger hooded white flowers; its foliage does not smell of lemon.

Melissa comes from the Greek word for honeybee, reflecting the flowers' attraction to bees, while officinalis indicates a plant traditionally kept for medicinal use.

Propagation. Divide clumps in spring, take softwood cuttings in late spring or early summer, or sow seed in spring. Named cultivars are best propagated by division or cuttings because seedlings may differ from the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Melissa officinalis

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Albania, Algeria, Baleares, Bulgaria, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Iran, Iraq and Italy.

Measured

Soil pH 7 to 7.5. Average height 75 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.