Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
Southern Europe
Types
-
Melissa officinalis
Number of Varieties
255
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Well Drained
Dappled Shade, Mediterranean region, Shady Edge, Woodland Garden
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-114-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
90.00 cm30.50 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm45.70 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Ivory
White, Light Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Black
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Dark Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Olive, Gray Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Late Fall, Early Winter
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt, Soil Compaction
Deer resistant, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Budding, Seedlings
Cuttings, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do not water frequently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Apply N-P-K, Phosphorous
Nitrogen, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Gray leaf blight, Gray mold, Leaf spot, Powdery mildew
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Dry Conditions
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
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Bees
Allergy
Pollen
Avoid during Pregnancy, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Cottage Garden, Used in parkland
Beautification, Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Deer resistant, Insect Repellent
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cough, Rheumatism
Antiemetic, Anxiety, Appetite enhancer, Digestion problems, Insomnia, Sedative
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
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, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Shade Trees, Tropical
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
CORDIA boissieri
MELISSA officinalis
Common Name
Anacahuita, Texas Olive
Lemonbalm, balm, common balm, balm mint
In Hindi
Anacahuita
नींबू बाम
In German
Anacahuita
Lemonbalm
In French
anacahuita
mélisse
In Spanish
anacahuita
Lemonbalm
In Greek
Anacahuita
Lemonbalm
In Portuguese
Anacahuita
Lemonbalm
In Polish
Anacahuita
Lemonbalm
In Latin
Anacahuita
CITRAGO
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Tracheophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Boraginales
Lamiales
Family
Boraginaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Cordia
Melissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Nepetoideae
Number of Species
3004
1
27800
👆🏻