Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herb that can grow 50cm – 1.5m tall and 10cm – 50cm wide.
This plant has several common names including: lemon balm, balm, balm leaf, balm oil plant, barm leaf, bee balm, dropsywort, honey plant, pimentary, sweet balm, sweet Mary or tea balm.
This is a deciduous plant that takes 2-5 years to reach full maturity.
Plant profile
Common name: lemon balm, balm, balm leaf, balm oil plant, barm leaf, bee balm, dropsywort, honey plant, pimentary, sweet balm, sweet Mary, tea balm
Scientific name: Melissa officinalis
Plant type: Herbs, Perennials
Habit: Bushy
Height: 50cm – 1.5m
Spread: 10cm – 50cm
Foliage: Deciduous
Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial shade
Soil: Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture: Well drained
Garden type: Informal Garden, Wildlife Gardens
Planting type: Flower borders and bedding
Seasonal colors
| Season | Stem | Foliage | Flower | Fruit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | ||||
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
How to plant Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – Cbaile19, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cultivation profiles – Growing Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) – H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
