Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Broadleaf Evergreen
Herbs
Origin
Australia
Southern Europe
Types
-
Melissa officinalis
Number of Varieties
355
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Secondary
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-114-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
-
12-1
Sunset Zone
21,22
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
610.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Linear to lanceolate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Fall, Late Winter
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Drought
Deer resistant, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water regularly for 2 months
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Pruning may be required for height clearance
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Does not require fertilizer once established
Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
-
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Deer resistant, Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
-
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Fine
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Blowflies, Insects
Bees
Allergy
Mild Allergen
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Anodyne, Odontalgic
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Wood
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as a fodder tree in agricultural areas, Useful for shade
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
Feature Plant, Hedges, Screening, Wind Break, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
GEIJERA parviflora
MELISSA officinalis
Common Name
Wilga, Native Willow
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
In Hindi
Wilga
नींबू बाम
In German
Pirol
Lemonbalm
In French
loriot
mélisse
In Spanish
oriol
Lemonbalm
In Greek
φλώρος
Lemonbalm
In Portuguese
papa-figos
Lemonbalm
In Polish
Wilga
Lemonbalm
In Latin
oriole
CITRAGO
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Charophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Equisetopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Lamiales
Family
Rutaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Geijera
Melissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
454
1
27800
👆🏻