Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Herbs
Herbs
Origin
Southern Europe
Mediterranean, Northern Africa
Types
Melissa officinalis
White cumin, Brown cumin, Black cumin
Number of Varieties
53
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
Fields, meadows, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-9-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-1
12-1
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
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 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
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm25.40 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
45.70 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink
White, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown
Tan, Sandy Brown
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
Compound
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Neutral
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Deer resistant, Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Medium
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral
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, fertilize in growing season, organic fertlizers
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
Sometimes
Sometimes
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees
Insects
Allergy
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Abdominal pain, breathing problems, Constipation, Diarrhea, Eczema, Headache, Itchy eyes, Nausea, Red eyes, Runny nose, Sinuses, sneezing, Sore eyes, Throat itching, Watery eyes, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cottage Garden
-
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Improve hair condition, Improve skin condition
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Food for insects
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Diarrhea, Fever, Indigestion, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Medicinal oil, Used as insect repellent, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in herbal medicines
Condiment, Employed in herbal medicine, Used As Food, Used for flavoring in Liquors, dairy products, gelatins,puddings, meats, candies, etc., Used as a spice, Used in making beverages
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
MELISSA officinalis
CUMINUM cyminum
Common Name
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
Cumin
In Hindi
नींबू बाम
जीरा संयंत्र
In German
Lemonbalm
Kümmelpflanze
In French
mélisse
Usine de cumin
In Spanish
Lemonbalm
planta de comino
In Greek
Lemonbalm
εργοστάσιο κύμινο
In Portuguese
Lemonbalm
Cumin planta
In Polish
Lemonbalm
Kmin roślin
In Latin
CITRAGO
Cumin plant
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Apiales
Family
Lamiaceae
Apiaceae
Genus
Melissa
Cuminum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Scandiceae
Subfamily
Nepetoideae
Apioideae
Number of Species
4100
1
27800
👆🏻