Melissa officinalis
Lemon balm, Balm, Bee balm, Honey plant, Sweet Mary
Also known as Melissa (lemon balm)
- Height × spread
- 0.6m × 0.46m
- Position
- All conditions
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is grown for its wonderful, sweet lemon scent. The plant is unexciting but hearty and healthy. It has rounded, ovate, rich-green, veined leaves of lush appearance. It has insignificant white flowers and forms a substantial, sometimes flopping, mound. The name balm is derived from the word balsam, the sweet scented oil. It is possible to make a herbal tea from the foliage. John Hussey, who lived in Sydenham and died aged 116 years drank balm tea with honey for fifty years.
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.6m
- Spread
- 0.46m
- Season of interest
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Scented garden, Mediterranean garden, Herb garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- All conditions
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry and shady soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Rabbit resistant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.