Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
India, China
Southern Europe
Types
Bead tree
Melissa officinalis
Number of Varieties
35
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Forest margins, Roadsides
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-154-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-7
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
910.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Lavender
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Cold climate, Drought, Pollution, Soil Compaction, Variety of soil types
Deer resistant, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Rooted stem cutting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Water daily during growing season, Water less during winter
Medium
In Summer
Ample Water
Lots of watering
In Spring
Less Watering
Moderate
In Winter
Less Watering
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Fertilize every year, fertilize in growing season, Less fertilizing
Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Cold climate, Drought, Variety of soil types
Deer resistant, Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Bees
Allergy
Toxic
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Absorbs greenhouse gases, Absorbs huge amounts of CO2, Air purification, Amazing growth rate, Erosion control, Food for birds, Food for insects, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, No fertilizer, pesticides, or herbicides needed, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Soil protection, soil stabilisation, Used to establish native woodland, Very little waste, Wildlife, Windbreak
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Stem, Tree trunks
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Air freshner, Showy Purposes, Used as firewood, Used as Ornamental plant, Wood is used for making furniture, Wood is used for ship building, Wood is used fore making tools, Wood is used in construction, Wood log is used in making fences
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
MELIA azedarach
MELISSA officinalis
Common Name
Chinaberry Tree
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
In Hindi
Chinaberry ट्री
नींबू बाम
In German
Chinaberry -Baum
Lemonbalm
In French
Chinaberry Arbre
mélisse
In Spanish
Chinaberry Arbre
Lemonbalm
In Greek
chinaberry Δέντρο
Lemonbalm
In Portuguese
azederaque
Lemonbalm
In Polish
azederaque
Lemonbalm
In Latin
Chinaberry ligno
CITRAGO
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Lamiales
Family
Meliaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Melia
Melissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Melieae
-
Subfamily
Meloideae
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
504
1
27800
👆🏻