Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis

Plant family: Lamiaceae

Plant origin: Asia and Southern Europe.

Fruit description:

Flowers: Lemon Balm has small white-green flowers on short sprays.

Growing conditions: Lemon balm is a very hardy perennial herb with lemon-scented leaves. The longish heart shaped leaves have hairs on them and look like those of a nettle plant or a common mint. The plant is up to about 90cm tall. It is an excellent ground cover, growing well in part shade or sunshine. It grows in any soil and most conditions but not in a tropical climate. It spreads rapidly, dies back in Winter and shoots vigorously in Spring. It grows well in a pot.

Uses: Lemon Balm is used to make soothing delicious refreshing teas. You can add the leaves to your cooking for a lemon aroma and flavour. Use in salads, sauces, desserts, marinades, stews, curries and soup. It goes well with fish, seafood and poultry dishes.

Medicinal uses: Lemon Balm tea has a calming effect, reducing feelings of stress. It is also an effective antiviral when an infusion of leaves is applied to cold sores.

Pollination requirements: Self-Pollinating.

Harvest time Pick the leaves any time you need them.

Plant relatives

Special features:

Grown by method: Seed Grown Pot size: 100mm

Plant growing Height and Width for pots or in the ground planting: Grows to 1 metres high by 1 metres wide if Planted in a Pot. Grows 1 metres high by 1 metres wide if Planted in the Ground.

Shipping plant pot or planter bag size: 100mm