Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs
Vegetable
Origin
Southern Europe
Mexico, Central America
Types
Melissa officinalis
Bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia, Smooth hydrangea, Oakleaf hydrangea, Annabelle
Number of Varieties
5100
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Forest edges, Hillside, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12*3
Sunset Zone
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
21,22
Habit
Clump-Forming
Vining/Climbing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm61.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm10.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
Light Green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
-
In Summer
Lots of watering
Average Water
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Nitrogen, Potassium
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
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
Medium
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Bees, Flies
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Chest tightness, Diarrhea, Dizziness, Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
-
Edible Uses
Insignificant
-
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Fever, Kidney problems, Urinary tract problems
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowers, Root
Other Uses
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
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Tropical, Vine
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
SECHIUM edule
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Chaco, Chayote, Vegetable Pear
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
Hydrangea
In German
Lemonbalm
Hortensie
In French
mélisse
Hortensia
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
Hortensia
In Greek
Lemonbalm
υδραγεία
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Hortênsia
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Hortensja
In Latin
CITRAGO
Hibiscus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Lamiales
-
Family
Lamiaceae
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Melissa
-
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
-
Number of Species
4-
1
27800
👆🏻